Five on Friday - November 22, 2024

Happy Friday!  Here we are, the Friday before Thanksgiving. Our weekend is full and I'm excited to start as soon as work is over today.  This is a busy time of year for everyone and I appreciate you popping in to see what my five are today.  Let's go ~

1.  Wicked

The wait is over - Wicked has been released!   The play is one of my favorites so I can't wait to see how it looks on the big screen.  It's such a wonderful story.  Here's the summary ~

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

2.  Christmas with the Queen

I love reading holiday books this time of year and the title of this new one grabbed my attention.  The review says it's The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally - two of my favorites.  How can I not love this book?  Here's the summary ~

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue the tradition of her late father’s Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must evolve with the times, and the queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—are unexpectedly reunited by the occasion. Olive, a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, but even a chance encounter with the queen doesn’t go as planned and Olive wonders if she will ever be taken seriously.

Jack, a recently widowed chef, reluctantly takes up a new role in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. Lacking in purpose and direction, Jack has abandoned his dream to have his own restaurant, but his talents are soon noticed and while he might not believe in himself, others do, and a chance encounter with an old friend helps to reignite the spark of his passion and ambition.

As Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmases, they grow ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret that threatens to destroy everything.

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, there is one final gift for the Christmas season to deliver…

Available HERE

3.  Swedish Dish Clothes

I am in love with my new Swedish dish clothes!  They work great for soaking up spills, wiping down counters and all your other dish towel needs.  When they get dirty, just pop them in the washing machine or dishwasher.  They come in a ton of colors and designs so you can match your kitchen.  These would make great stocking stuffers!

Available HERE

4.  Rakuten

This time of year my online spending is in high gear.  I love using Rakuten to get cash back on my purchases!  If you're not already signed up, now is the time to do it.  There are so many places you get cash back - Target, Walmart, Shein, Groupon, and so, so many more!  Every quarter I get a "big fat check" with my rebates.  It's kind of like getting paid to shop!  Sign up HERE and start accumulating your free money today.

5.  Procrastination at its best...

Have a great weekend!  I'm hoping to get the guest room ready for my mom's visit next week.  We are having lunch with friends on Saturday and dinner with other friends on Sunday.  I love busy weekends!  See you next week!

In Case You Missed It This Week

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

2024 Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Five on Friday - November 11, 2022

Happy Friday!  I was starting to think the weekend would never get here!  Did the time change affect your week?  This getting dark at 5:00 pm is something I don't think I'll ever get used to.  I am used to sharing my five on Fridays, so here goes ~

1.  Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all the military veterans who have served in the US Armed Forces.  Wonder why we celebrate on November 11?  National Day Calendar states, "The observance reflects the end of significant hostilities at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany took effect."  

2.  Season 5 of Yellowstone

It's back - Yellowstone Season 5 starts Sunday on Paramount Network!  I can't wait to see what the Duttons have for us this season.  We can look forward to 14 episodes this season that is split into two parts.  Sunday's episode will start with the first 7 episodes and will be two hours long.  I know where I'll be Sunday night.  

3.  The Stories We Tell by Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines can add an author to her long list of accomplishments.  On Tuesday, her memoir was released.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Star of Fixer Upper and New York Times bestselling author, Joanna grew up in a multiracial family, the product of a unique and beautiful love story between her Korean mother and her American father. Experiencing regular teasing as a child because of what made her different, it wasn’t until later in life that she started to see those differences as the most beautiful part of her story.

From stories that brought shame and her soul’s deepest insecurities to the page to stories about healing and hope and having just a little bit more fun, join Joanna as she journeys through the years of becoming a wife, mother of five, and business owner—looking back to mend what’s broken and gain clarity in places that are cloudy so she can look forward with grateful and certain eyes, believing that every chapter has its purpose. The Stories We Tell reminds us that every piece of our story matters to who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow.

"This book is not an autobiography. I still have too much to learn and discover about myself, and I feel as though I am only halfway there. This book also is not a how-to, because I certainly don’t have all the answers. What I hope this book is for you is an invitation to come as you are. To join me, with a vulnerable and open heart, as we connect the chapters of our life stories, and figure out where we go next, learning to move forward from within.

The only way to break free was to rewrite my story. Because something would happen every time my pen stopped: it was like my soul was coming back to my body. Like the deepest parts of me that got knocked around and drowned out by all the crap I let the world convince me about who I was came back to the surface. And what was left was only what was real and true. I was, finally, standing in the fullness of my story. I felt hopeful. I felt full. Our story may crack us open, but it also pieces us back together. I’m grateful to have found truth on the other side of lies. Vulnerability on the other side of fear. Empathy on the other side of pain. This is how I know that every season has a purpose, and that holding, even when it leads to letting go, is what clues us into the bigger story being told."

4.  Roll for It

If you read my post from Thursday, you've already heard me say how much fun this game is to play.  We played with friends last weekend and it quickly went on my wish list.  I'm hoping Eric took all the hints about me wanting it and gets it for me for my birthday (hint, hint).  It's super easy to learn and up to 8 people can play.  To play, you simply roll the dice, match them to cards on the table, and win points. But watch out for canny players looking to steal the card you are after!  It would be the perfect game to have on hand during the upcoming holidays.  

5.  Current situation...

Have a great weekend!  The temperature here is supposed to plummet, so we'll probably be spending most of the weekend inside watching The Crown.  I'm going out with friends tonight, which is always a great way to start the weekend!  Pop in next week to see what other things we did.

Five on Friday - September 16, 2022

 Happy Friday!  Thanks for popping in today for Five on Friday.  Let's see what I have for you today~

1.  Mummy Mug from Target

Target has the cutest Halloween mug and it's only $5!  This adorable mummy mug holds 12 ounces of the favorite drink.  If your coffee or hot chocolate gets cold, no worries.  Just pop it in the microwave to warm it up.  It's even dishwasher safe for easy washing.  I might need 1 (or 6) of these!

2.  Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
It's back - again.  That scrumptious seasoned beef and refried beans between two Mexican Pizza shells with Mexican Pizza sauce, three-cheese blend, and tomatoes on top Mexican Pizza is once again available at Taco Bell.  You know which drive-through I'll be in this weekend!

3.  Thermal-Aid Zoo
I was recently on the lookout for a baby shower gift week and ran across this gem.  This mini cuddly stuffed monkey can be a cold ice pack or a warm compress.  Keep it in the freezer and it becomes an ice pack for boo-boos or slip it in the microwave if you need a heating pad.  It's filled with a patented, natural corn filling and is mold-resistant.  A must-have when stocking a baby's first aid kit.  Plus, it's just so darn cute!

4.  Vintage Long-Sleeve Tunic Sweatshirt

Last Sunday it was downright cool in St. Louis.  I got excited for Fall and ordered this sweatshirt from Old Navy.  It's the coziest, softest sweatshirt I've had in a long time.  The length is longer, perfect for leggings.  Now I'm kind of getting excited about colder weather.  Get yours HERE.

5.  True Statement...

Okay, let's get this weekend started!  Eric and I worked last Saturday and Sunday so we are both excited to have a couple days off.  Tomorrow I plan on having a slow morning and doing a lot of relaxing.  I have book club on Monday and need to finish the book.  The perfect excuse to spend some time reading this weekend!  Then on Tuesday, we're hosting a Bachelorette Finale party.  Oh, the drama!  Pop back in next week to see how it goes.

Five on Friday - August 19, 2022

Let's hear it for Friday!  Here's my five for the week~

1.  House of the Dragon

Okay all you Game of Thrones lovers - I know you are excited for House of the Dragon to start Sunday night.  This prequel to Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," series, which is set 200 years before the Game of Thrones story.  We will now learn about the story of House Targaryen.  Who's excited?

2.  The Challenge

Danielle Steel has been cracking out the books lately and her latest, The Challenge, hit the stands on Tuesday.  Here's the summary ~

Fishtail, Montana, is home to Anne and Pitt Pollock, local royalty, high school sweethearts, and owners of the successful Pollock ranch. The sprawling foothills of the Beartooth Mountains surround the town, overlooking the Pollocks’ property and the nearby ranch belonging to Bill and Pattie Brown. The two couples have known each other since childhood.

Their sons Peter Pollock and Matt Brown are also the best of friends. When they and two other local kids meet Juliet Marshall, new to town after her parents’ bitter divorce, the five of them are soon inseparable, spending their summer days swimming, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing.

But one August afternoon, their latest adventure takes a dangerous turn—and quickly escalates into a battle for survival—when they find themselves trapped on Granite Peak. Fear reverberates through the town as their parents grow ever more desperate to hear word that their children have been found. They must place their own trials aside amid a massive search-and-rescue operation. As they come to lean on one another for support, a media frenzy ensues, heightening tensions and testing some already fragile relationships.

In the aftermath of this one fateful event, devastating secrets are revealed, new love appears on the horizon, and families are forced to reconsider what they once held dear. In The Challenge, Danielle Steel deftly weaves a story that is a portrait of courage and a striking tale of the bonds of love and family.

3.  Pumpkin Spice at Krispy Kreme

If you haven't been by Krispy Kreme lately, you might want to swing by and get some pumpkin spice doughnuts and drinks.  They are going all in with the fall flavor!  On the doughnut side, you can choose from Pumpkin Spice Latte Swirl, Pumpkin Spice Original Glazed, Pumpkin Spice Cake, or Pumpkin Spice Original Filled Cheesecake.  If you can't decide, grab a dozen of assorted.  Wash them down with a Pumpkin Spice Latte or a Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee.  You can get your fill of the pumpkin spice with just one drive-through trip!

4.  Colored Curved Pens

Check out these pens - they make the most fun lines!  These babies could make any journal look so fancy!  The set consists of 8 vivid and classic colors.  One end marks a fine line while the other end makes the cool designs.  My doodling is about to go to a whole new level.

5.  There you have it...

Have a fantastic weekend!  I'm getting ready for a bridal shower and will be taking a road trip with my daughter-in-law to get there.  Fun times!

Five on Friday - February 18, 2022

Happy Friday!  What a week.  We had a couple days of 60-degree temps and then the bottom fell out on Wednesday night and we started getting rain.  The rain became sleet on Thursday when the temperature dipped into the 20s and then was covered by a layer of snow.  Spring, please get here soon! 

Whatever the weather is doing, I'm here to share my five with you.  Here they are ~

1.  The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4

Have you been waiting for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4 to begin?  Well, the long wait is over!  The Amazon original will release two episodes a week starting today.  Midge is sure to have plenty up her sleeve this season.  If you remember, the series cliffhanger had her at the airport after Shy dropped her from the USO tour.  Lots to unfold in this season!

2.  February 22, 2022

This coming Tuesday is 2/22/22 - a pretty special Twosday!  Mark the day with a fun shirt from Amazon!  You'll need to act fast to have Prime deliver it to you on time.  Here are a few of my favorites ~

3.  Little Debbie Ice Cream

The next time you're in Walmart, you should check out the freezer section.  There you'll find the new Little Debbie Ice Creams!  The flavors available are Strawberry Shortcake Rolls, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Zebra Cakes, Cosmic Brownies, Honey Buns, Butty Bars, and Swiss Rolls.  I honestly don't know which one I'd like to try first!

4.  Teabag Organizer

I've accumulated quite the stash of teabags.  When I saw this box on Amazon, I knew it was just what I needed to store them in!  I can't wait for it to arrive so I can arrange all my teabags into one place.  This would also be a great gift for the tea lover in your life.  

5.  Cha-Ching!

Have a great weekend!  I've got a few things to do around the house and will be soaking up the last events of the Olympics.  I also need to finish the book we'll be discussing at book club on Monday.  That won't be hard because I'm loving the book - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.  See you next week!

Five on Friday - January 21, 2022

It's Friday!  We've been busy this week, so I'm really looking forward to having a little downtime.  Before I get too relaxed, let me share my five for today ~

1.  Ozark

Season 4 is here!  We can't wait to see how they get all the blood out of their hair.  This final season will be divided into two parts, with each part consisting of 7 episodes.  Sad news is we don't know when Part 2 is coming.  Until then, I plan on enjoying Part 1.  As a matter of fact, as soon as we are home from work this will be on our television.

2.  Ice Roller

Last Saturday, I celebrated Christmas with three of my girlfriends.  One of my friends gave us these ice rollers.  It's amazing!  This little baby has been by my bedside and every night this week I've been rolling it all over my face.  It claims to prevent wrinkles and relieve eye fatigue.  Whatever it does is just a bonus to the way it feels.  Give this thing a try and you'll see what I'm talking about.

3.  Enough Already:  Learning to Love the Way I am Today

Valerie Bertinelli's new book came out this week and I'm anxious to read what she has to say.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Beloved actress, Food Network personality, and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bertinelli reflects on life at sixty and beyond.

Behind the curtain of her happy on-screen persona, Valerie Bertinelli’s life has been no easy ride, especially when it comes to her own self-image and self-worth. She waged a war against herself for years, learning to equate her value to her appearance as a child star on One Day at a Time and punishing herself in order to fit into the unachievable Hollywood mold. She struggled to make her marriage to Eddie Van Halen — the true love of her life — work, despite all the rifts the rock-star lifestyle created between them. She then watched her son follow in his father’s footsteps, right up onto the stage of Van Halen concerts, and begin his own music career. And like so many women, she cared for her parents as their health declined and saw the roles of parent and child reverse. Through mourning the loss of her parents, discovering more about her family’s past, and realizing how short life really is when she and her son lost Eddie, Valerie finally said, “Enough already!” to a lifelong battle with the scale and found a new path forward to joy and connection. Despite hardships and the pressures of the media industry to be something she’s not, Valerie is, at last, accepting herself: she knows who she is, has discovered her self-worth, and has learned how to prioritize her health and happiness over her weight. With an intimate look into her insecurities, heartbreaks, losses, triumphs, and revelations, Enough Already is the story of Valerie’s sometimes humorous, sometimes raw, but always honest journey to love herself and find joy in the everyday, in family, and in the food and memories we share.

4.  Herr's Fire Roasted Sweet Corn Potato Chips

We were given a bag of these chips and, let me tell you, they are DELICIOUS!  I asked my friend who gave us a bag where she got them and you will never guess what she said.  Menards!  Eric made a trip there this week to restock.  Menards also had fire-roasted sweet corn flavored popcorn.  We'll try that as soon as we've polished off all the bags of chips we bought.  

5.  My wardrobe...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I'm flying to Florida on Sunday for a business trip, so I'm going to try to squeeze in all the relaxation and fun I can into tonight and tomorrow.  I can't even express how excited I am to escape our frigid temperatures and arrive in the sunny, warm climate I'm going to!  See you soon!

Friday Favorites - August 13, 2021

Happy Friday the 13th!  Hope you guys are having a very lucky day today.  I know Friday the 13th is supposed to be a day you watch out for, but I've always had good things happen to me so I'm glad to see my lucky day roll around every now and then.  Let's see what's on my Friday the 13th Five on Friday ~

1.  International Left-Handers Day

Today really is a day to celebrate for me because I'm left-handed!  That's right, I've learned to maneuver my way through the world using my left hand.  At least I didn't have to worry about kids taking my scissors in grade school because they couldn't use them!  I stand with about 10% of the population who are also southpaws.  And we're in pretty good company.  Eight US Presidents, Mark Wahlberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Prince William are just a few!

2.  The Man Called Messiah:  A Novel

A good friend of my son and daughter-in-law, Corey Stumne, just got his first book published and we are so proud of him!  He's getting rave reviews ~

"Just when you thought you knew Jesus, thanks to Stumne's moving imagination and powerful writing, there is so much more to feel about The Man. Often painful to read, this story brings us starkly face to face with the suffering Savior. Best read on grateful knees."

          --F. LaGard Smith, compiler and narrator of The Daily Bible

"Corey Stumne's debut novel provides a unique perspective on the events surrounding The Man's arrest, trial, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection, all done in vivid detail. Walk the steps of The Man's last days to discover why he chose his path in The Man called Messiah."

          --Jenifer Jennings, biblical fiction author

"The Man Called Messiah is a vibrant and moving retelling of Christ's passion. Stumne drew me into Holy Week and made me believe I was with The Man and his followers. The love of Christ shines through in this powerful, emotional, and heart-changing story."

          --Barbara M. Britton, award-winning author of the Tribes of Israel series

"Corey Stumne's debut novel provides a unique perspective on the events surrounding The Man's arrest, trial, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection, all done in vivid detail. Walk the steps of The Man's last days to discover why he chose his path in The Man called Messiah."

          --Jenifer Jennings, biblical fiction author

Here's the summary ~

The Man is burdened beyond belief. It's been three years since his ministry began, and now it's come to its climax.

Although fully human, he doesn't find much comfort being surrounded by his twelve closest friends. Although fully divine, he can't stomach the thought of what's set before him.

After his arrest, The Man stands before a powerful ruler trapped in a political dilemma. Unseen forces fight for control as The Man awaits his verdict. Enemies since The Man's birth, The Accuser watches his wicked scheme unfold before his eyes. Support eventually arrives, but it might be too late. After all, nothing can stop the shocking plan The Father had set in motion from the beginning of time.

It all ends here, on a hilltop outside the city. Three crosses rise from the summit. One will decide humanity's fate. Determined to reveal The Father's heart, The Man accepts his destiny in order to redeem the world.

Little did his followers know how much it would cost him . . .

3.  Respect

Respect opens today and it is definitely on my list of movies to see!  Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin, along with several other actors I adore like Forest Whitaker and Audra McDonald.  We've seen the previews and it looks great.  Even if it's bad, it will be worth hearing Jennifer Hudson singing Aretha Franklin's songs!  Soundtrack anyone?

4.  Dreubea Tassel Tote Bag

I'm not quite ready to let summer go and welcome in fall, but I do want to be ready when fall gets here.  I ordered this navy blue tote bag in the exact same style as the pink one I ordered in the spring.  It comes in about a million colors, so there's plenty to chose from.  Me and the pink one have gotten along fabulously all spring and summer, so I decided to order it again just in a more fall-ish color.  I love it and for the price, it just can't be beaten!

5.  So me...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  This is the last weekend before my friend and I head to the beach for vacation.  Lots to do!  But it will be a fun list of chores knowing I'm getting ready to go on a trip.  See you back here next week!  

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

Five on Friday - June 4, 2021

The weekend is here and I'm ready!  Is it just me, or do the short weeks always feel longer than normal?  Let's get the weekend started by checking out my five for today ~

1.  National Doughnut Day

Start your day off by celebrating National Doughnut Day!  Swing by Krispy Kreme for a free donut today.  Dunkin' is also giving away a free donut with the purchase of a beverage.  Yum!  Would how this day got its beginning?  It's a day designed to honor the Salvation Army Lassies, the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.  In 1917, the original “Salvation Army Doughnut” was first served by the Salvation Army ladies.  It was during WWI that the Salvation Army Lassies went to the front lines of Europe. Home-cooked foods, provided by these brave volunteers, were a morale boost to the troops.

2.  Spirit

The theaters are opening back up and there's a great movie for the whole family coming out today.  Here's the summary from Movie Insider ~

Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier.

Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Academy Award® winner Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Oscar® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero.

Lucky is decidedly unimpressed with the sleepy little town. She has a change of heart when she meets Spirit, a wild Mustang who shares her independent streak, and befriends two local horseback riders, Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace, Captain Marvel) and Pru Granger (Marsai Martin, Little). Pru’s father, stable owner Al Granger (Emmy winner Andre Braugher, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is the best friend of Lucky’s father.

When a heartless horse wrangler (Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, FX’s Justified) and his team plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky enlists her new friends and bravely embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse who has given her freedom and a sense of purpose, and has helped Lucky discover a connection to her mother’s legacy and to her Mexican heritage that she never expected.

3.  Mosquito Guard Repellent Bands

Summertime is arriving and with the longer days, the kids are outside more than ever.  Worried about them getting eaten up with mosquitos?   Try these repellent bands!  There are 20 in the pack and each one is made with natural ingredients and deet free.  Throw them in the suitcase for your vacation.  Put them in the backpack for day camp.  Wear them on a wrist or ankle.  They are perfect for any outdoor activity! 

4.  Malibu Rising

Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest book came out this week - Malibu Rising.  It' sounds like a great summer read!  Here's the summary ~

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

5.  Where's my phone?

We have some fun things on the agenda this weekend.  My nephew graduates from high school and we will be able to celebrate him on Sunday.  After over a year of putting our monthly game nights on hold, they are starting again tonight.  Fun times!  In between the fun, I have a to-do list that's the length of my arm!  Pop in next week and see the highlights!  Have a great weekend!

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

Five on Friday - May 7, 2021

Let's hear it for Friday!  I'm so glad the weekend is here.  It's going to be a fun one so let's kick it off with my five for today ~

1.  Mother's Day

Sunday is Mother's Day!  The first Mother's Day was celebrated in 1907 when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew's Methodist Church.  Seven years later, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as a national holiday honoring mothers.  Hope you can celebrate the day with those you love.

2.  Wrath of Man

It has been ages since we saw a good action film on the big screen.  We're hoping to change that this weekend!  Wrath of Man opens today and it looks packed with action.  Here's the summary from Rotten Tomatoes ~

Mysterious and wild-eyed, a new security guard for a cash truck surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman's ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.

3.  The Last Thing He Told Me:  A Novel

Looking for your next read?  How about trying Reese Witherspoon's Book Club Selection.  This one just hit the stands this week.  It sounds so intriguing to me.  Definitely adding it to my TBR list.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

A gripping mystery about a woman who thinks she’s found the love of her life - until he disappears.

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers - Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity - and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future - one neither of them could have anticipated.

With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a riveting mystery, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn.

4.  Pop-Up Mesh Screen Food Covers 

Warm weather is coming and so are picnics and opportunities to eat outside and BUGS!  This year I'll be ready because I scooped up this 6-pack of pop-up mesh screen food covers.  When they are folded down, they take up very little space.  But when you pop them open, they easily cover large plates of food.  They come in a set of 6, so I'm thinking I can even cover everyone's dinner plate until we're ready to eat.  Alfresco dining here we come!

5.  Definitely me...

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  I'm looking forward to spending some time with my son and daughter-in-law.  Pop back in on Monday to get the full weekend rewind.

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home

Five on Friday - March 26, 2021

It's Friday!  Before we head into the weekend, here's my five for this week ~

1.  Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut

Have you gotten a COVID vaccine yet?  If so, take your record card to any participating Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut.  Not just a single free doughnut, but starting Monday you can get a free doughnut every single day for the rest of the year!  Talk about a sweet deal!  Literally, a sweet deal.

2.  Francesco

Holy Week begins on Sunday and discovery+ is celebrating by streaming Francesco, a new documentary on Pope Francis.  The film features interviews with the Pope himself, plus his nephew Jose Ignacio Bergoglio, His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and Juan Carlos Cruz who is a victim and activist for survivors of sexual abuse.  We had an opportunity to see the Pope when we were in Italy a few years ago and I can't wait to see this show!

3.  Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly

Martha Hall Kelly's new book, Sunflower Sisters, releases on Tuesday and I can't wait to get my hands on it!  She introduced us to Caroline Ferriday in Lilac Girls.  Sunflower Sisters is the story of Ferriday's ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War.  Here's the summary from Amazon:

Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey isn’t meant for the world of lavish parties and the demure attitudes of women of her stature. So when war ignites the nation, Georgey follows her passion for nursing during a time when doctors considered women on the battlefront a bother. In proving them wrong, she and her sister Eliza venture from New York to Washington, DC, to Gettysburg and witness the unparalleled horrors of slavery as they become involved in the war effort.

In the South, Jemma is enslaved on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland, where she lives with her mother and father. Her sister, Patience, is enslaved on the plantation next door, and both live in fear of LeBaron, an abusive overseer who tracks their every move. When Jemma is sold by the cruel plantation mistress Anne-May at the same time the Union army comes through, she sees a chance to finally escape - but only by abandoning the family she loves.

Anne-May is left behind to run Peeler Plantation when her husband joins the Union army and her cherished brother enlists with the Confederates. In charge of the household, she uses the opportunity to follow her own ambitions and is drawn into a secret Southern network of spies, finally exposing herself to the fate she deserves.

Inspired by true accounts, Sunflower Sisters provides a vivid, detailed look at the Civil War experience, from the barbaric and inhumane plantations, to a war-torn New York City, to the horrors of the battlefield. It’s a sweeping story of women caught in a country on the brink of collapse, in a society grappling with nationalism and unthinkable racial cruelty, a story still so relevant today.

4.  Bailey's Colada

Summer is on its' way and Bailey's is here for us with their new colada flavor!  Their limited-edition favor is a combination of creamy coconut and sweet, juicy pineapple.  This would be perfect to pour over vanilla ice cream for a refreshing boozy dessert.  Yum!  And the bottle is so pretty!  It will dress up any cocktail bar.  

5.  So true...

We are looking forward to some awesome weather this weekend.  Hoping to spend some time outside enjoying it.  I also have a wedding meeting with an adorable couple that I'm helping.  It is such a relief that we'll be able to celebrate their wedding on schedule this year.  Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home