Five on Friday - April 13, 2018

Let's celebrate - it's Friday!  This has been a fun week.  Eric and I enjoyed dinner with friends on Monday then saw Blockers, I had dinner with my friend Debbie on Thursday and tonight we're meeting Ian and Kayla for dinner.  I also have a big weekend planned so before I wrap up the week, here's my five on Friday ~

1.  National Make Lunch Count Day
You do eat lunch at your desk everyday?  If so, you are suffering from FOLO (Fear of Lunching Out).  Well, today is the day to change that!  Celebrate National Make Lunch Count Day by grabbing a friend and heading out to lunch.  Share your experience on social media using #NationalMakeLunchCount.

2.  Lay's Poppables

Eric brought home a bag of the Lay's Poppables this week and I could have eaten the whole bag in one sitting.  They were delicious!  We tried the Sea Salt flavor.  They are also available in White Cheddar and Honey BBQ.  About 30 pieces of this crunchy goodness is only 150 calories.  Don't let their light and air texture fool you -- they are packed with flavor! 

                          

3.  Katie Daisy 2018-2019 Planner

You might think I'm crazy for blogging about a planner in the middle of April, but hear me out.  This Katie Daisy planner is being released on May 15 and you can pre-order it now from Amazon.  Her stuff usually sells out so fast!  The 5" x 7" weekly planner goes from August 2018 through December 2019, making it perfect for school and academic planning.  If you're looking for an end-of-the-year gift for your kiddo's teacher, this might be your answer.  Click HERE to check it out.

$12.54 on Amazon

4.  Travel Smart Bottle Set

If you happen to miss my blog post from yesterday, I'm taking a little overnight trip to Cleveland tomorrow for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions.  Because it's just a one-night stay, I'm determined to carry on instead of checking a bag.  If you've ever traveled with me, you know what a big deal carrying on is because I'm a bit of an overpacker.  But I digress.  These little bottles and handy clear bag is helping me downsize my liquids and making it possible for the carry on to happen.  Travel much?  Click HERE if you need this!

5.  My shopping habits.....

                       

Now let's get this weekend started! I'll be headed to Cleveland bright and early in the morning.  Can't wait to share all the details with 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
5 on Friday

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

Friday Favorites - April 13, 2018

Happy Friday!  Welcome to Friday Favorites.  Hope you have fun checking out all the features today, as well as the links!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

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Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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Thinking Out Loud Thursday - April 12, 2018

Hello friends!  Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Hope you link up below and share what's on your mind today.

I'm thinking ahead to the weekend today.  My friend, Debbie, and I are taking a little trip and having been planning it for months.  Wonder where we are headed?  We're going to Cleveland for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions!!  Oh my gosh -- I get all giddy just typing it!

You see, one of our absolute favorites is being inducted and we just couldn't stand not being there.  Bon Jovi -- we're coming to celebrate with you!!  

If you've read my blog for a hot minute, you know I love Bon Jovi.  Debbie and I traveled with our friend Jane to Chicago twice to see the group and then saw them on the same tour in St. Louis.  Jane's been in heaven since 2016, but there's not a Bon Jovi moment that we don't think about her.  She'll be with us in spirit this weekend as we see Jon and company receive this awesome honor.

Last February, Debbie and I traveled to Nashville to see the This House is Not For Sale tour on a Saturday night and rushed back to St. Louis to see them on Sunday.  Yes, we're those crazy fans that just can't get enough!

You'll have to check back in next week for my weekending post.  Wouldn't it be cool if for some crazy reason we actually ran into Jon Bon Jovi out and about in Cleveland!?!  I know it's a looooonnnnngggg shot, but a girl can dream!  And that's what I'm thinking out loud about today.

I would love to hear some recommendations for great places to eat and things to do in Cleveland.  If you've been to a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, fill me in on what to expect.

Now it's your turn.  What's on your mind?  Link up and let us know.

An InLinkz Link-up

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

This is How We Roll

Weekending - April 6, 2018

Monday - you are here too soon!  This weekend, even though we didn't have a lot going on, flew by.  Eric had to work Saturday and Sunday so I was pretty much on my own.  

Before I get in to want happened this weekend, I want to make you aware of something fun that is happening today at Bailey's Range in downtown St. Louis.  Today from 5 pm to 8 pm, 25% of your bill will be donated back to EarthDance to help continue to spread the good food movement in St. Louis and beyond.  If you don't have time to stop and eat, feel free to order carry-out and take some good eats home.   EarthDance is near and dear to my heart as I serve on their board.  Hope to see you at Bailey's tonight and enjoying their burgers and brews.  And don't forget to save room for dessert - their ice cream is the best!

Now - back to the weekend.  I kicked off the weekend by going to Scandal Night at my friend Jamie's house.   Six of us gathered around the TV and watched a couple episodes after dining on a delicious lasagna dinner.  After a good girls night I always walk away with lots of great ideas shared by friends.  This night was no exception.  I picked up a couple good shows to watch on Netflix.

Saturday morning I was feeling a bit creative so I whipped up some "hello" note cards and added them to my Etsy shop.  I have to say, I do love the way they turned out.  The yellow hello can be customized into the color of your choice.  These would make a great Mother's Day gift or to welcome a new neighbor.  A set of 6 is $10.  Click HERE if you have someone you would like to purchase a set for.

In the afternoon, I settled down in front of the TV and started watching one of those Netflix shows that was recommended on Friday night - Happy Valley.  Have you seen it?  Oh my goodness, I was hooked immediately!   Season 1 was almost finished by the time Eric got home from work.

                                                                                    

I put Happy Valley on hold so Eric and I could watch the St. Louis Blues hockey game.  They needed a win to advance to the playoffs.  Unfortunately, they didn't make that happen and the season is over.

Sunday after church we popped in Fezziwig's.  I needed to pick up a couple cooking things and I'd heard they had some new things on display.  Needless to say, my Mother's Day wish list got a bit longer after our trip!  One of the coolest things were these candles that bubbled water.  They were amazing!

Eric headed off to work and I spent the afternoon / evening finishing not only Season 1, but also Season 2 of Happy Valley.  Dinner consisted of popcorn and a good magazine.  Quite the relaxing day!

Hope your weekend was a good one.  We might actually be getting some spring weather towards the end of the week.  That is definitely something to look forward to!

Check out what others were up to this weekend.

B Loved Boston

Over the Moon

Hello Monday

Friday Favorites - April 6, 2018

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - April 5, 2018

Welcome to another edition of Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Hope you link up below and share what you're thinking out loud about today.

Today I'm reflecting on the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King.  Even though he was not alive in any of the years I have memories, his legacy is so big it seems like part of him is still alive today.  In 2016, my friend Linda and I visited the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where he was assassinated.   It was touching to be in the actual spot where Rev. King was killed.



One very cool symbol that happens each April 4 at 6:01 pm (the time of the shooting), a bronze church bell perched on a scaffold above the Lorraine Motel tolls 39 times - once for each year of King's life.  I'm sure that would be such a chilling experience to witness.

So many of his quotes are so profound.  Here's a few of my favorites ~

So inspirational!  If only we could all take these words to heart and live life in the spirit they reflect.

Now it's your turn - what's on your mind today?  Link up and tell us.  I look forward to hearing from you.

An InLinkz Link-up

Weekending - Easter

Oh my goodness - it's Tuesday night already and I'm just sitting down to write my weekending post.  Where does the time go?!?

We had a lovely weekend with my parents, son and daughter-in-law.  Although we didn't have a single Easter egg hunt, we still managed to do some fun activities and the weekend flew by.

My parents arrived early Saturday morning and we had breakfast before heading out to our first stop.  I'll have to blog about the Asparagus and Feta Quiche I made because it was fabulous!

The sun was actually shining when we headed to the Fabulous Fox theater to do a tour.  The Fox has behind the scene tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 am.  (Unfortunately, they will NOT be hosting tours during the run of Hamilton, April 3-22).  This was the first time I've taken one of the tours, but it won't be my last.  The next time I host a girls weekend for my friends from Kansas City, this will definitely be on the agenda.

It's no wonder why they call this place the Fabulous Fox - the building is absolutely gorgeous!

                       

As an added bonus for the Saturday tours, there is an organ presentation. Mr. Jack Jenkins tickled the ivories for us. He's one impression organist! So worth the $10 admission charge!

One of the cool things our tour guide, Jerry, pointed out to us was in the design each piece of molding was given a number. The numbers were supposed to be covered up with plaster before the final paint went on. There are a few places in the theater where the numbers were not covered and are still visible.

Our next stop was the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The Cathedral was designated a Basilica in 1997 when Pope John Paul II recognized the building for its beauty and historical significance of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Inside you will find one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world. It was created by 20 different artists and covers 83,000 square feet. If you're wondering how many pieces of glass it takes to cover that amount of space, guess high. The installation contains 41.5 million (yes, MILLION) pieces of glass tessare.



Work began in 1912 and was completed in 1988 by the Ravenna Mosaic Co.  It's so beautiful!



If you visit the Basilica, don't miss the Mosaic Museum located in the basement. It walks you through the construction of the building and you can also see the section dedicated to the Pope St. John Paul II visit. The basement has the burial crypt of a few Cardinals and an Archbishop.



After a full morning of tours, Eric headed to work while the rest of us headed to lunch. We parted ways with Ian and Kayla after eating and decided to stop at the casino on our way back to our house.  I, surprisingly, managed to walk away $25.11 richer than when I went in!  Cha-Ching!!

Sunday was spent playing cards and games in between getting dinner ready.

Nothing breaks up a good party like sleet and snow!  Around 4:30 pm the slick stuff started falling and everyone thought it would be a good idea to head home.  My parents had the longest drive and it took them almost double the amount of time it typically would.  Spring - where are you??

Hope your week is off to a good start.  I'm hoping we can see the sun by the end of the week.  This gloomy weather is getting pretty old!