Five on Friday - July 18, 2025

 It's Friday!  Time for me to share my Five for Friday for the week ~

1.  Untamed

It might be because we’re heading to Yosemite in just a couple of weeks, but I’m really looking forward to the new Netflix miniseries Untamed. This six-episode thriller centers around a woman’s mysterious death in the breathtaking wilderness of Yosemite National Park. It stars Eric Bana and Sam Neill—two of my favorites!

2.  The View from Lake Como

Adriana Trigiani's new book is out and it's getting great reviews!  Definitely adding this one to my TBR list!  Here's the summary ~

Jess Capodimonte Baratta is not living the life of her dreams. Not even close.

In blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, family comes first. Recently divorced from Bobby Bilancia, “the perfect husband," Jess moves into her parents’ basement to hide and heal. Jess is the overlooked daughter, who dutifully takes care of her parents, cooks Sunday dinner, and puts herself last. Despite her role as the family handmaiden, Jess is also a talented draftswoman in the marble business run by her dapper uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe).

When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, the shock unearths long-buried secrets that will force Jess to question her loyalty to those she trusted. Fueled by her lost dreams, Jess takes fate into her own hands and escapes to her ancestral home, Carrara, Italy.

From the shadows of the majestic marble-capped mountains of Tuscany, to the glittering streets of Milan, and on the shores of enchanting Lake Como (the other one), Jess begins to carve a place in this new/old world. When she meets Angelo Strazza, a passionate artist who works in gold, she discovers her own skills are priceless. But as Jess uncovers the truth about her family history, it will change the course of her life and those she loves the most forever. In love and work, in art and soul, Jess will need every tool she has mastered to reinvent her life.

Fed by the author’s cherished Italian roots comes a bighearted, hilarious novel of the moment: the story of one woman’s determination to live a creative life that matters, with enough room left over for love. With a one-way ticket to Italy, Jess is determined to write a new story on her own terms--this time, in stone.

Available HERE

3.  DC Super Heroes Specialty Dozen at Krispy Kreme

Looking to surprise the kids with some superhero fun at breakfast this weekend? Swing by Krispy Kreme! For a limited time, you can pick up donuts themed after Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Available individually, in a trio, or by the dozen—these heroic treats won’t be around for long, so grab them while you can!

4.  Hummingbird Feeder Ant Guard

Last weekend we had friends over, and I mentioned that one of our hummingbird feeders was being overrun by ants. Turns out, our guest had the same issue and solved it with an ant guard—who knew?! I ordered one from Amazon right away, and problem solved! If you’re dealing with ants at your feeders, these little gadgets are a total game-changer!

Available HERE

  
5.  Hmmm...

Have a great weekend!  The Savannah Bananas are in town and we are headed to the game on Saturday.  Can't wait!  See you next week!

Seven Life Changing Concepts by Shane Bishop

Hello and 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 sharing a message that our pastor, Shane Bishop, shared with the congregation this week.  With his permission, I wanted to share it with you ~

In many ways, life is a battlefield…of the mind. What we think and the attitudes and understandings that accompany those thoughts determine the quality of our lives in very real ways.

Seven Life Changing Concepts

1. WIN THE MOMENT
Winning a whole day is too hard. Think of your life as a series of crisis moments where you could do the right or the wrong thing. Turn each crisis into a prayer and receive God’s strength for victory! String wins together and get on a roll!

2. DEAL WITH CONFLICT
The more effectively you deal with conflict, the more functional your life becomes. Very few things are as bad as we imagine they are going to be. Handle difficult things directly with an attitude of reconciliation if possible and an attitude of closure regardless. Talk to people, not about people. Run toward your fears and not away from them. Eradicate dread by taking decisive action. Be proactive.

3. CONTROL YOUR INPUTS
The better your inputs, the better your outcomes. Fill your life with healthy, worthwhile and beautiful things. Log off of Social Media and log on the Bible. We are all full of something and we all leak. Get full of Jesus and leak good stuff!

4. FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN
When we forgive, it is us who is set free. Forgiveness breaks the power of those who have hurt us. We finally get them out of our heads! Jesus reminds us that when we forgive others, we are in position to be forgiven ourselves. Ask God to forgive you. Make restitution where you can. Forgive yourself. Move on.

5. FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
Learn to see the good in people and celebrate the bright side of life. What we focus our attention upon is illuminated in our lives. Focus on problems and they are illuminated. Focus on solutions and they are illuminated. Focus on the negative and it is illuminated. Focus on the positive and it is illuminated.

6. RAISE YOUR BAR
As we incorporate healthy ways of seeing the world, our potential is unlocked! The glass ceiling shatters! Changing what we focus upon changes how we think. Changing how we think changes what we do. Changing what we do changes everything!

7. LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE
Pursue happiness and it will elude you. Pursue purpose and you will find happiness! Life is a gift and we get one shot at it. Why not choose to live a life that matters?

We can always change but life does come with an expiration date. By putting these things into play before the clock runs out, we can anticipate a restful night and a glorious tomorrow!

Curious to hear more from Reverend Shane? Click HERE to explore our church’s website. Christ Church is a vibrant, faith-filled community we’re proud to be part of!  Plus, our worship services are streamed online, so you can join us from wherever you are!

Now it's your turn.  Link up and share what's on your mind today!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - July 16, 2025

 

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 | X
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

How to Bake Rainbow Cake Stack

Cherry Dump Cake Recipe

Raspberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry

What I'm Reading This Summer

Pamper Yourself:  A Simple DIY Spa Day

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 - July 11, 2025

Happy Friday and welcome to Five on Friday! I always enjoy sharing a few fun things with you to wrap up the week. Here's what I've got for you today ~

1.  Superman Movie

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Head to the theater and check out the new Superman movie! If you’re a fan of action-packed adventures, this one’s a must-see. Both critics and audiences are giving it high marks. Here’s a quick look at what it’s all about ~

When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it's too late?

2.  Selena Gomez Oreos

Be on the lookout for Oreo's new Selena Gomez cookies!  Picture this:  a layer of chocolate and cinnamon flavor creme atop another layer of sweetened condensed milk flavor creme with cinnamon sugar inclusions, sandwiched between two Oreo chocolate cinnamon flavored wafer cookies!  Yum!  Within the package you'll find six unique designs.  Bring them on!  But they are only here for a limited time so get them while you can.  Don't forget to scan the pack's QR code to unlock exclusive content.

3.  Happy Wife

The July Read with Jenna book selection really caught my eye—it sounds like such a compelling read! Happy Wife was just released at the end of June, and it's already generating a lot of buzz. I added it to my library holds right away, but I’m currently number 55 on the waitlist, so it might be a little while before I get my hands on it. Fingers crossed it’s worth the wait!

Nora Davies doesn’t exactly fit in to Winter Park, Florida, where old-guard Floridians mix with the tax-fleeing coastal elite. Twenty-eight and barely making ends meet working at a country club, Nora feels like she’s going nowhere fast. Enter Will Somerset: a prominent forty-six-year-old lawyer, father to a teenage daughter, and recently divorced. The two set Winter Park’s social scene agog when they fall in love and marry after a whirlwind Cinderella-style courtship.

But Winter Park is fully upended when Will disappears the morning after a birthday bash Nora throws for him. Going back and forth between Nora and Will’s romance and the search in the wake of Will’s mysterious disappearance, Nora must answer the question from all angles: Where. Is. Will?

Combining breathless suspense, glittering and juicy social dynamics, and an unforgettable cast of characters, Happy Wife is a clever and subversive novel that explores marriage, wealth, and the secrets that lurk behind closed doors.

Available HERE

4.  Sneaker Cleaner

My sneakers have definitely seen some miles this summer—the soles are starting to look pretty worn. It’s time to give them a good refresh with Sneakerasers. These handy little cleaners are specially designed to brighten up white soles. The white sponge side gently scrubs away dirt and naturally wears down as you use it, while the orange side helps remove any lingering scuffs or marks. If they look familiar, you might’ve seen them featured on Shark Tank!

Available HERE

5.  Yep...

Let’s get this weekend started! We’re excited to welcome some out-of-town guests and are heading to the Cardinals game together on Saturday—it should be a great time. Let the fun begin! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week.