Five on Friday - May 31, 2024

Can you believe this is the last day of May already?!?  Wrapping up the month with my Five on Friday post.  Let's go!

1.  National Pen Pal Day

Tomorrow is National Pen Pal Day.  Do people have pen pals these days?  I remember having one when I was a child.  I can't remember her name or where she was from, but I can remember how much I loved getting her letters in the mail.  My mother-in-law has had several pen pals throughout her life from all over the world.  At one time, she had 25!  She and a few of her pen pals have been exchanging letters for over 50 years!  If exchanging postcards with others sounds fun to you, check out Postcrossing.  You can send postcards and receive postcards back from random people from around the world.  Sounds like fun to me!

2.  Nature Valley Biscuits with Almond Butter

A friend at work had me try one of these Nature Valley biscuits with almond butter and now I can't get enough of them!  Thank goodness she had a stash in her drawer and doesn't mind sharing.  They are on my grocery list, so hopefully I'll be able to repay her and have my own stash soon.  Try them - they're scrumptious!

3.  Tissue Paper Flowers

Look at these adorable paper flowers!  I saw them in person last week and fell in love with them.  My mind immediately started thinking about how I could use them.  Bridal shower backdrop?  Tea party decorations?  A set comes with 9 flowers, 3 each of 3 different sizes.  You'll have to be patient when fanning them out, but the results are beautiful.  Be watching, I'll find a place to use them and I'm sure they will be showing up on the blog!

Available HERE

4.  Scented Drawer Liners

The Amazon driver will be delivering my scented drawer liners on Saturday.  They are just what I need to motivate me to clean out my dresser drawers and put them in the bottom!  I've had scented drawer liners before and absolutely love opening the drawer and smelling the refreshing fragrance.  The ones I ordered are fresh linen scented.  If fresh linen isn't your favorite, they come in many other scents.

Available HERE

5.  Getting ready for vacation...

Enjoy your weekend!  We have a few fun activities planned and I'm excited to get the weekend started.  See you next week!

2024 Spring Mantel

Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday today!  On Thursday, I share something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm sharing our spring mantel!

Our spring mantel this year is basically the same one we had last year with a few flowers thrown in.  The pictures I picked up last year at Hobby Lobby are still some of my favorites so I certainly didn't mind using them again.  

Each piece of art has a thoughtful message that helps remind us of what is important.  I love having these reminders to look at every day!

It's almost time to replace this mantel with our Fourth of July pieces, so I thought I better share it before it comes down!

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 - May 29, 2024

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

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

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
5. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
6. Denise –THISISMYEVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

TOP VIEWED

Take a Moment

VERY POPULAR

No Bake Banana Split Dessert

Vintage Botanical Print in the Early Summer Entry

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Watermelon Mojito Recipe

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 - May 23, 2024

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  This weekend always seems like the trigger to start summer - and I'm here for it!  I'm looking forward to spending a few days with Eric and kicking off the season!  Now on to my five for today ~

1.  Memorial Day

Memorial Day is more than the start of summer.  It's a day dedicated to honor and remember the men and women who have served and died in the U.S. armed forces.  It serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom.  There is a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 pm local time when Americans are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence to remember and honor those who have died in military service.  Let's all take a moment to honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

2.  You Like It Darker

Stephen King's latest book was released on Tuesday.  You might want to add this 512-page novel to your summer reading list!  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

Available HERE

3.  Mosquito Repellent Bracelets

With summer comes mosquitoes and this year I'm going to do my best to stay ahead of the bites.  I purchased a pack of these mosquito-repellent bracelets and have been pretty impressed with them.  They are DEET free and one size fits all.  After the package is open, you can store them in a ziplock bag for longer use.  They are perfect to have in the car, picnic basket and sports bags.  Stock up!

Available HERE

4.  Gap Dress at Sam's Club

Occasionally I run across a piece of clothing at Sam's that is just too good to pass up.  Like this Gap dress!  It's lightweight cotton, comfortable and so cute!  I have a feeling it's going to be a staple in my summer wardrobe.  At $16.98 I might need one in every color!

Available HERE

5.  Summer's Coming...

Have a great weekend!  We are taking a little trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  We've heard great things about the town and are looking forward to doing some exploring.  See you back next week!

Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC - Day 2

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I talk about something on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.  Today I'm continuing my summary of our trip to Washington, DC to see the cherry blossoms!

After a fun first day, we woke ready to seize day two of our trip.  Upon peeking out the curtains, we saw it was going to be a rainy one.  We were not going to let the rain deter us from our plans so out into the weather we went!  Our first stop was Tatte Bakery and Cafe to get caffeinated up for the day.  I was pleasantly surprised to run into an old coworker of mine.  We chatted for a bit and then we were off to our next adventure. 

We had been lucky enough to get tickets to visit the White House.  I had applied for tickets through our representative.  You can request tickets between three months and 21 days in advance.  Tours are limited to Friday and Saturday mornings (excluding federal holidays or other special events) from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan ahead!  You will want to request your tickets as early as possible.

This was my first visit to The White House and it was so utterly fascinating!  Being in the areas where you've seen the President stand in person was a bit thrilling. 

It was also a bit thrilling to see the Grand Staircase.  Flashbacks of one of my favorite movies, American President, came rushing back to me.  Remember the scene when Annette Benning was standing on the steps with Michael Douglas?  I know that's not where they actually filmed the scene, but it was the location they were pretending to be at.  

Then there are the beautiful views out the windows.  It's just quite the place!  

Our next stop was the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.  There are so many fascinating things tucked in those walls.  The things I was most interested in seeing were the Hope Diamond and the display of First Ladies' dresses.  Checked both off the list!

After leaving the museum, we worked our way to the Library of Congress.  I'm not sure why we hadn't visited this site before, but we had really been missing something!  The place is stunning!  Remember how I've said before to remember to look up?  Well, you can't help but notice how magnificent the ceilings are in the Library of Congress!

Eric managed to find a newspaper article on display about a town near where we live.  That was fun to see something in the Library of Congress that related to a place so close to home.

We rounded out the day by walking back to the hotel and ordering pizza for dinner.  As we ate, we laid out our plan for the following day and played cards.  It was so wonderful to have this time with our adult kids!  Stay tuned for day three!

If you missed the recap of day one, you can see it HERE.

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 - May 22, 2024

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

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

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
5. Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
6. Denise –THISISMYEVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

TOP VIEWED

Happy in My 60s with My Favorite Products

VERY POPULAR

Latest Thrift

Must-See Glacier National Parks

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Cream Puffs

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 - May 17, 2024

Hello Friday!  I am so excited to see this weekend get here.  The last several weeks I've been on the go and, as fun as they were, I'm looking forward to having a bit slower weekend coming up.  Kicking it off with my five for this week ~

1.  Bridgerton

Season three of Bridgerton has begun!  Netflix dropped four episodes yesterday and will be delivering another four on June 13.  This season explores the love story of Colin and Penelope.  I couldn't help myself and binge-watched all four episodes already.  It's steamy!  And the costumes are fabulous!  I might just have to rewatch it again over the weekend.

2.  Krispy Kreme and Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's doughnut debut is happening at Krispy Kreme!  The southern sweets doughnut collection is made up of Dolly Dazzler (pink icing with a butterfly), Banana Puddin' Pie, Peachy Keen and Chocolate Creme Pie.  These are being offered for a limited time and will be gone on June 16, so get them while you can!

3.  Living Proof

Bon Jovi is releasing a new single today, and I can't wait to hear it!  Living Proof is from their next album, Forever, which will be coming out on June 7.  Bon Jovi shared a snippet of the song on Instagram and it definitely has vibes of Living on a Prayer.  Jon has been through some voice issues, but apparently, he's all healed and ready to rock.  

4.  Cap-Sleeve Tank

I picked up a couple of cap-sleeve tanks from Amazon and they are remarkably good.  They are heavy enough to not be see-through and are a great length.  The cap sleeve makes it a little more fashionable than a plain t-shirt.  You also can't beat the price - just $19.99 and you can also click the box for a 25% discount.  I have a feeling I'll be wearing them on repeat all summer long!

Available HERE

5.  It's good to try...

Have a great weekend!  We are visiting a winery tomorrow.  I'm also hoping to power wash the patio.  It always amazes me how different the concrete looks after it's been cleaned!  See you back next week!

Let's Make Strawberry Freezer Jam

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by 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 my recent project of making strawberry freezer jam!

It's strawberry season where we live and I love going to our local orchard, Eckert's, and picking a batch of the juicy red fruit.  But this year I was a bit short on time so when I saw their sale for buy one flat, get one free I couldn't resist swinging by their store and getting the berries.  I had seen a video on Instagram from MeMe's Recipes where she made strawberry freezer jam and I was pretty sure I could easily make a batch.  By the way, if you haven't seen MeMe's Recipes on Instagram search for it.  She's a sweet little old lady who has the BEST recipes!  Turns out that in less than an hour two batches were prepared and ready to go into the freezer!  Here's how it's done ~

Here's What You Need

4 cups of strawberries (I used a quart and a half)

1 package of Sure Jell

3/4 cup water

4 cups sugar

Here's What You Do

Wash the 4 cups of strawberries and cut off the stems.  Put them in a bowl and smash them.  I used my masher / ricer, but didn't press so hard that the strawberries came up through the ricer.  I also did smash a few with my fingers.  The 4 cups of strawberries are reduced to 2 cups.

To the 2 cups of strawberries, add 4 cups of sugar and stir for 10 minutes.  Just a few minutes into the stirring, my Apple watch asked me if I wanted to record my elliptical workout!

After the strawberries are all stirred up, set aside while you do the next step.

Boil together 3/4 cup water and the Sure Jell.  While stirring, let it boil for 1 minute.

Add this to your strawberries and stir for three minutes.  After stirring for three minutes, you are ready to fill your jars.

Put the lids on the jars and let them sit on your counter for 24 hours.  After 24 hours, place them in your freezer.  That's it!  One batch makes 6 half-pint jars of jam.  I can't wait to tie a ribbon around the jar and give them away this winter!  

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