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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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 - June 5, 2020

Happy Friday!  I'm off work next week and will be wrapping up all the loose ends today so I can step away from my desk for a week.  This originally was the week we were going to be in San Diego on vacation and I would have been attending the RISE conference.  The conference was postponed and we decided we aren't going anywhere.  So we are trying to look forward to having time at home to get some projects done.  Eric hasn't been working from home at all and I was only home for a couple weeks.  We've been a little jealous seeing everyone's home activities so we're going to try to catch up next week.

Hope you enjoy this week's five ~

1.  Sonic's Brownie Batter Shake
Sonic is giving us something to cheer about - their new Brownie Batter Shake!  Made up of Sonic's classic vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate brownie, this shake sounds delicious!  If chocolate's not your thing, they also brought back the Yellow Cake Batter Shake.  I'll be headed to the drive-through to give the brownie batter one a try.  They are only available for a limited time, so don't delay.

2.  The Lies that Bind

Emily Giffin's new book, The Lies that Bind, hit the stands this week and it looks like a great vacation read.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city—and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it—you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours—and shots of tequila—the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse—Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who he seemed to be?

The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth—in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.

3.  Mosquito Repellent Bracelet

Need some relief from the mosquitos this summer?  Try these 100% natural and deet-free bracelets!  They come in a pack of 12 and fit both adults and kids.  You can wear them on your wrist, ankle or in your hair.  Each lasts up to 10 days, so one should get you through your entire weekend.  And they're waterproof so when the kids are hopping in and out of the pool they are still protected.  I'm not a huge fan of the spray-on repellent so we are definitely giving these a try!

4.  The Lovebirds

Eric and I watched The Lovebirds last week on Netflix and thought it was hilarious!  It was the sheltering in place date night movie.  If you haven't seen it, get it on your list to watch!  Here's the summary ~

A couple (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme-- and hilarious -- circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

                           

5.  True fact....

Have a wonderful weekend!  Eric and I are going to finalize our to-do list for next week and get started on a few things.  We're meeting in person with our small group from church on Saturday night.  We will be social distancing in one of the couple's back yard and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in person.

Linking up with:

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

Five on Friday - August 9, 2019

Happy Friday!  Three cheers for the weekend!  At the end of the day, I'm on vacation for a week so I'm hoping to get tons done at work today and leave feeling like I accomplished all the things I need to get done.  Before I tackle my work load, here's my five for today ~

1.  The Art of Racing in the Rain
Grab your tissues if The Art of Racing in the Rain is the movie you're seeing this weekend!  It's opening today and if it's half as good as the book, it's going to be a masterpiece.  Here the synopsis from Fandango ~

Based on the best-selling novel by Garth Stein, THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is a heartfelt tale narrated by a witty and philosophical dog named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner). Through his bond with his owner, Denny Swift (Milo Ventimiglia), an aspiring Formula One race car driver, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition and understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life. The film follows Denny and the loves of his life - his wife, Eve (Amanda Seyfried), their young daughter Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and ultimately, his true best friend, Enzo.

If you haven't read the book, add it to your to be read list.  You won't be disappointed!

2.  Pioneer Woman Luggage

Pioneer Woman does it again.  Just look at this adorable new luggage!  This lightweight carry-on size piece of luggage comes with an impressive price tag ($59) and is available at Walmart.  One thing any piece of luggage I buy these days must have is 360 navigation, which this one does have.  Also, it comes with a 10-year warranty.  Which one is your favorite?

                                          

3.  Lucky Charms Marshmallows

Guess what - you know those little marshmallows found in Lucky Charms cereal.  Well, picture them full size and on shelves near you for only $1.50 for a 7 oz. bag.  That's right - the cereal company is collaborating with Jet-Puffed to bring the enlarged version of the little pink hearts, green clovers, yellow stars and blue moons we love from the breakfast treat.  I'm going to be on the look out in my stores for these babies!  Let me know if you sight any.

4.  Isle Jacobsen Slip On Shoes

I spied these shoes on a blogger friend's post and immediately knew I had to have a pair.  When they arrived, I slipped them on and truly thought I'd never take them off!  There are no words to describe how comfy they are.  Besides the comfort factor, they are also waterproof.  If you are looking for a fun pair of casual shoes, look no further!  These are for you.

5.  I need a nap....

Okay guys - I'm off to enjoy vacation.  Hope you have all kinds of fun this weekend!  See you soon!

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks

Five on Friday - July 19, 2019

Let's hear a rousing HOORAY for Friday!  This week has been long and short all at the same time.  Ever have one of those?  Regardless, I'm excited the weekend is near.  Here's my five for this week~

1.  Lion King
When Lion King originally came out in 1994, it was one of the first movies I ever took my son Ian to experience.  He was three years old, sat on my lap and was mesmerized by what was taking place on the huge screen in front of him.  Now, 28, he, his wife, me and Eric are going on Sunday to see the newly released 2019 version.  I can't wait to experience it again!  In case you don't know the story, here's the synopsis from Fandango ~

Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother -- and former heir to the throne -- has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

2.  Hershey's Caramel Whipped Topping

Hershey's has once again tempted us with a new whipped topping flavor - this time it's caramel!  Some of their flavors I could take or leave, but this one piques my interest.  I'm thinking of putting it on pancakes, in coffee, heck just squirting it directly into my mouth!  A serving of two tablespoons is only 10 calories.  Heck, I might just take a can to work and when I get a craving for something sweet take a hit.  Have you seen it in your stores yet?  I'm definitely going to be on the hunt for it this weekend. 

3.  Essie's Summer Collection Nail Polish

Looking for a fun new nail color?  Check out the colors in the summer collection from Essie.  There are only here for a limited time, so scoop them up while you can!

4.  The Latte Factor

I'm starting to think about the books I want loaded on my Kindle for our long plane ride to Ireland.  The Latte Factor keeps bubbling to the top.  I heard the author on The Rise podcast and he sold me on wanting to read every page of his book.  Amazon says this ~

Discover #1 New York Times bestselling author David Bach’s three secrets to financial freedom in an engaging story that will show you that you are richer than you think. Drawing on the author’s experiences teaching millions of people around the world to live a rich life, this fast, easy read reveals how anyone—from millennials to baby boomers—can still make their dreams come true.

 Click HERE to grab your copy and we can figure out how rich (or not) we are at the same time.

                                    

5.  Be careful when you pick up your prescription....

Enjoy the weekend!  We've got fun stuff happening over the next few days.  We'll be seeing Footloose at the Muny tonight, meeting with the bride we're working with on Saturday, then seeing The Lion King on Sunday.  Monday will be here before we're ready for it!  See you next week.

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks

Five on Friday - April 26, 2019

Happy Friday friends!  Where did this week go?!?  After having a glorious three day weekend and celebrating Easter, this week has gone by in a flash and, unfortunately, the blog kind of took a back seat.  I did have time to pull together my five for this week!  Here it is ~

1.  Stuffed Puffs
Get ready to take your s'mores to a whole new level this year -- these new chocolate stuffed marshmallows are hitting the shelves at Walmart.  Can you imagine the chocolate part of your s'more treat being just as gooey as the marshmallow part - OMG!!!  Even if you just want to snack on them, the chocolate surprise center would be pretty delicious.  They are definitely on my shopping list for the weekend.



2.  Rolling Stones New Box Set

Today's the day -- the Rolling Stones is releasing a brand-new Best Of compilation album call Honk.  It features their biggest hits from every Rolling Stones album from 1971 to 2016.  Who else would love to add these vinyls to their collection?  Jammin' to tunes like "It's Only Rock'n'Roll" and "Start Me Up" is always a good time!  Want the collection for yourself?  Click HERE to check it out.

3. Sangria from Aldi's
If you haven't been in an Aldi's lately, I'll give you a good reason to go.  Sangria.  They have big bottles of Sangria in both red and white for only $5.99!  I've tried both and they're good guys.  Add some fruit and you have a summertime cocktail ready to serve.  I'm headed back there this weekend to restock.  

                      

4. Avengers Endgame
Just in case you haven't heard, Avengers Endgame opens today.  Good luck getting a ticket though because presale tickets have been crazy!  It opened in China two days before us here and crushed sales!  It's expected to get close to or surpass the $258 million opening of "Infinity War".  That is a crazy amount of money!  Here's the movie synopsis from Fandango ~

Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers -- Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner -- must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos -- the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.

5.  So true...

I have one more exciting thing to share with you today.  I'm taking part in a Mother's Day Giveaway!  Enter for your chance to win one of three great gift cards.

We are so excited to be giving away $410 in gift cards for Mother's Day to three lucky readers. The giveaway will run from April 26th – May 10th.

The prizes are:

• 1 - $200 gift card
• 1 - $105 gift card
• 1 - $105 gift card

Each winner will choose the gift card you want. Please choose a gift card which comes from an online store and can be paid by US dollars. EX: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy's, Kohls, etc. You may ask for more than one gift card but must add up to your prize amount.

Now its time to meet our co-hosts who have made this giveaway possible.

Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom | Mary at Real Girl's Realm | Dana at Create To Donate | Marie at The Inspiration Vault | Debi at Life Currents | Meredith at The Mom of the Year by Meredith Spidel | Audrey at That Recipe and Munofore | Tammy at Creative K Kids | Kellyann at This Blonde's Shopping Bag | Michelle at Our Crafty Mom | Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After | Kristin at White Arrows Home | Penny at Penny's Passion | Mary at Dine Dream Discover | Trish at By Trish Sutton | Lisa at Coast to Coast | Janelle at Num's the Word | Tara at Noshing With The Nolands | Emily at Domestic Deadline | Linda at A Labour of Life | Gladys at Moms to Grandmas | Habiba at Craftify My Love | Sinea at Ducks 'n a Row | Nancy at Nancy On The Home Front | Heather at The Super Mom Life | Jodie at Jodie's Touch of Style | Terri at Our Good Life | Beverly at Eclectic Red Barn | Tammy at My Life Abundant

Please stop by and say hi to these wonderful co-hosts and their blogs.

The giveaway will end midnight on Friday, May 10th, a few days before Mother's Day. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email claiming their prize. If we don't hear in 48 hours, we will choose another winner. The giveaway is open to anyone over 18 years of age and able to receive e-gift cards from the U.S.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a great weekend!  We will be glued to the television on Saturday afternoon watching the St. Louis Blues hockey game.  Love playoff hockey!  Then on Sunday I'll be going to my niece's baby sprinkle.  Fun times ahead!  

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks

Five on Friday - March 22, 2019

Happy Friday!  And happy Spring!  Boy, just the thought of Spring makes me do a little happy dance inside.  I've got a few items in my five for today that makes me do a little happy dance too.  Here they are ~

1.  Peeps
With Easter fast approaching, you may have noticed the aisles of candy for your baskets starting to fill up.  Have you noticed all the crazy flavors Peeps are coming in these days?  Here's the unique ones I'm talking about:  Red Velvet, Blueberry Delight, Fruit Punch, Cotton Candy (yes please), Sour Watermelon, Party Cake and Pancakes and Syrup just to name a few.  You can actually get variety packs straight from Amazon.  Which one sounds interesting to you?

2.  Gloria Bell
I know some of you might be excited the movie Us is opening this weekend, but that flick is far too scary for me!  I'm adding Gloria Bell to my list of movies to see.  It stars Julianne Moore and I just love her.  Here's the synopsis from Rotten Tomato ~

Gloria (Julianne Moore) is a free-spirited divorcée who spends her days at a straight-laced office job and her nights on the dance floor, joyfully letting loose at clubs around Los Angeles. After meeting Arnold (John Turturro) on a night out, she finds herself thrust into an unexpected new romance, filled with both the joys of budding love and the complications of dating, identity and family.

Want to see the trailer?  Here you go ~

4.  Clean Mama's Guide to a Healthy Home

Are you sick of using all those cleaning products full of toxic chemicals?  Ready to go all natural?  Becky Rapinchuk's new book, Clean Mama's Guide to a Healthy Home, might be just want you are looking for to get you started.  Here's what Amazon has to say about it ~

In Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home, Becky Rapinchuk, author of Simply Clean and creator of the popular cleaning website Clean Mama, provides a step-by-step guide to take charge of your home’s wellness with a comprehensive, all-natural cleaning system.

Scientific evidence points to a clear link between household chemicals and a number of diseases and chronic health issues. Drawing on this research, Rapinchuk’s program delivers an organized, beautiful, toxic-free, environmental-friendly household by providing readers with:
-A room-by-room guide to cleaning and removing harmful toxins in one’s home
-A Weekend Kick-Start Detox to ease readers into the program
-Over 50 simple, organic DIY cleaning product recipes
-Easy to digest research on common toxic products in the home, why they are  dangerous to our health, and what to replace them with
-Tips and tools from a trusted source to create cleaner, safer homes, resulting in healthier families

Cleanliness is about detoxing, embracing organic, all-natural methods and products, and protecting the environment. Moms look to Becky to guide them in the best cleaning practices for their home, and will welcome Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home, which shows that going natural isn’t just a better way to a cleaner home—it’s vital to the health of our bodies, our families, and our planet.

Click HERE to purchase

4.  Jergens Brilliance Flawless Effect Lotion

Spring is here and those summer days are right around the corner.  Are your legs in shape to wear those skirts and shorts?  If not, this lotion may be your answer.  It will work on blurring those veins, calming redness, and hiding spots.  Heck, it will work on your arms and chest as well as your legs!  What's magical about this lotion?  It subtly blush-tinted.  As a bonus it also contains shea butter to turn your dry skin smooth.  Click HERE to grab a bottle.

5.  My favorite game....

Enjoy this first weekend of spring!  I've been away from home on business since Monday morning and we've had very long work days.  The thought of laying on the couch and watching college basketball has me just a wee bit excited.  See you next week!

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

The Blended Blog

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks

Five on Friday - March 8, 2019

Happy Friday!  Let's get this weekend started with a little Five on Friday action ~

1.  Daylight Saving Time
Bring on the daylight!!  Don't forget to move your clock up one hour Saturday night before you go to bed.  You know, Spring forward.  Even though we are going to be one hour short this weekend, I'm so looking forward to the jump start to longer days of sunlight.

2.  Captain Marvel
Okay Marvel fans - a new movie is hitting the theaters this weekend.  Here's the synopsis from Fandango, "Captain Marvel is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. Living on Earth in 1995, she keeps having recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury, Captain Marvel tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls."

3.  Smashbox Full Exposure

A few weeks ago, I was headed out of town on business and needed to grab a fresh tube of mascara.  Much to my dismay, my Beauty Brands was out of my then favorite mascara and I was forced to choose a new one.  The lady helping me suggested this Smashbox Full Exposure.  I had every intention of replacing it as soon as my brand came back into stock, but I've fallen in love with it! My lashes are looking long without being clumpy.  I'm a contact wearer and it hasn't bothered my eyes at all.  It's available HERE for a little less than I paid at the store.

                                                  

4.  InSinkErator Hot Water Dispenser

Last fall we added an instant hot water dispenser to our kitchen sink and I'm so in love with it!  Sorry it's taken me so long to mention it.  This baby delivers instant hot water perfect for making hot tea.  But that's not all we're using it for.  Since the water coming out of this faucet is near-boiling, it's perfect for filling the pot when making pasta.  And it's also superb at getting that melted, baked on cheese off your dirty dishes.  A friend of Eric's installed it for us and we have been enjoying it ever since.  Need one in your kitchen?  Click HERE! 

5.  Which one are you?

Even though I only worked four days this week, I'm so excited to have a weekend ahead of us!  We are celebrating our son's birthday tomorrow night.  To be honest, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that he will be twenty-eight years old.  Where has the time gone?!?  I also plan on spending some time with my nose in Rachel Hollis's new book Girl, Stop Apologizing.

Click HERE to buy

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you back here next week!  I'll be showing you our St. Patrick's Day decorations and some other fun surprises.

Linking up with:

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

The Blended Blog

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks

Weekending - February 22, 2019

Happy Monday!  I've got a bit of an Oscar hangover this morning.  I was up past my bedtime watching all the stars enjoying their evening.  But it was so worth it!

I took a vacation day on Friday and worked around the house until my friend Linda rolled into town in the afternoon.  We were planning to celebrate everything Oscar so I decided to doll up the house a bit with some Oscar decorations.

Since Friday was National Margarita Day, we immediately headed to Chevy's to celebrate the holiday.  Never waste a reason to enjoy a margarita!

Movies were the theme of the weekend and we watched a total of five before the Oscars aired Sunday night.  Friday night we checked BlacKkKlansman.  The best picture nominated film was one neither of us had seen and was available on Amazon.  I found it to be entertaining, but didn't see it winning in the Best Picture category.

During the course of the night, Linda got a call that one of her dear friends who was bravely battling cancer had fallen into a coma and didn't have much longer here with us.  A life leaving us way too soon.  Another example of why we should live each day to the fullest because we truly never know when our time here will end.  She and her family were in our thoughts and prayers throughout the weekend.  I'll be keeping Linda in my prayers because I know what it's like to say goodbye to a close friend way before you should have to.  Please hug your friends and tell them how much they mean to you.  You never know what the future will hold and when it will be too late to tell them what they mean to you.

Saturday we added The Wife to our watch list.  Eric and I had seen it, but Linda hadn't and we definitely liked it enough to see it a second time.  This movie seemed to disappear from our theaters really fast so we had rented it from Amazon.  We totally understood why Glenn Close was nominated for Actress in a Leading Role.  Overall, we loved this movie!  If you haven't seen it, definitely worth adding to your list.

Ian and Kayla popped in before we had to leave for our dinner reservations and we were able to work in playing a couple games of Splendor and Qwixx.  Both fun games!

When we got home from dinner at Cooper's Hawk, we settled back into our seats on the couch to watch Can You Ever Forgive Me?  Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant play out the tale of Lee Israel's forging and selling personal letters from celebrities.  We like this one too and I would suggest adding it to your list of you've not seen it.

Before calling it a night, we got in one more movie - First Man.  I think Eric liked this movie more than Linda and I did.  Honestly, it wasn't one of my favorites.  Did you see it?  Like it?

Sunday morning we tried the chocolate croissants from Trader's Joe at the suggestion of my daughter-in-law.  OH.MY.GOODNESS!  They were perfection!  So glad Kayla mentioned them and we will definitely be having these again.  Kept in the freezer, you set them out the night before and let them rise for 9 hours.  Then pop them in the oven for 20-25 minutes and they are ready to go.  YUM!

Linda and I scooted out of the house early to catch Green Book at the theater.  So worth a second watch!  Can totally, totally understand why this was chosen as the 2019 Best Picture.  This movie made us laugh, brought us to tears and held every emotion in between.  Loved it!

After doing a little shopping (and you should see the fabulous mirror I bought!) we were in our sweats and on the couch by 2:30 pm to settle in for the Oscars.  No joke - we set up a card table in the family room, piled it with food and had the best evening.  We even watched the after party coverage on E!.  Hope this becomes a tradition for us!

Now it's Monday and I'm sad the fun weekend is over.  The good news is we have another fun weekend coming up in a few days that I need to get ready for.  Pop back in later and I'll fill you in on what we're doing!

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