Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - May 14, 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

Save

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

Vanilla Lemon Curd Layer Cake

The Best Salad Recipes

Books I've Read - March and April

How to Personalize a Rope Basket

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 

will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Five on Friday - May 9, 2025

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I hope you’re feeling celebrated, whether you’re spending time with loved ones, enjoying a little well-deserved rest, or simply soaking in the joy of the season. I know many of you have fun plans and special moments lined up over the next few days, so I’ll keep things moving—let’s dive right into my five favorites for today! ~

1.  Nonnas

This new Netflix movie drops today, and it looks like the perfect feel-good watch for Mother’s Day weekend! It stars some of my favorites—Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, and Joe Manganiello, just to name a few—and it looks absolutely adorable. Here’s a quick summary ~

Vince Vaughn, 55, stars in this light-hearted comedy about a man who loses his mother and decides to honor her “food is love” memory by opening an Italian restaurant. Where’s the comedy, you ask? How about this: He hires four feisty Italian grandmas (including Susan Sarandon, 78!) as the restaurant’s “new” chefs. Joe Manganiello and Linda Cardellini costar. Stephen Chbosky, who helmed the criminally underseen 2012 coming-of-age film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directs.

2.  My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman’s brand new book, My Friends, was released this week, and the moment I heard about it, I knew it had to go straight to the top of my TBR list. I’ve loved everything I’ve read from him so far—his storytelling always strikes such a perfect balance between heart and humor. I can’t wait to dive into this one and see where he takes us next!

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

Available HERE

3.  Ice Cream Scoop

With summer just around the corner, that can only mean one thing at our house—more ice cream! Whether it's for an after-dinner treat or a mid-afternoon cool-down, we’re always reaching into the freezer for a scoop. But there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to dig into rock-hard ice cream with a regular scoop. That’s why I’m so excited about this clever gadget—it actually heats up to 158 degrees, making it super easy to glide through even the hardest ice cream straight from the freezer. No more bent spoons or sore wrists—just smooth, effortless scoops every time!

Available HERE

4.  Strawberry Bread

I picked our first batch of fresh strawberries last week at a local orchard, and the moment I had them in my hands, I thought of this delicious Strawberry Bread recipe. We ended up devouring the berries so quickly that I didn’t even get a chance to bake it—oops! So it looks like another trip to the orchard is in my near future. If you’ve got fresh strawberries on hand (or plan to pick some soon), I wanted to share this recipe with you—it’s a sweet and simple way to enjoy them!

Recipe HERE

5.  Just a thought...

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Don’t forget to share a little extra love with the mom figures in your life—whether it’s a hug, a call, or just a kind word, it all counts. I’ll see you back here next week!

Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is a space where I share what's on my mind and invite you to join in by linking up and sharing your thoughts too. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s definitely been on my mind today!

If you’ve been stressing over finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift or simply haven’t had time to shop, Amazon Prime has you covered!  Here are a few items I know I would love to unwrap on Mother's Day ~

Available HERE

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Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Five on Friday - May 2, 2025

Happy Friday! I took a vacation day today from work so I could catch up on a few things. My list is long so I'm going to share my Five on Friday and get to it ~

1. Cinnabon Iced Coffee by International Delight
Mornings can be tough. International Delight is trying to make it a little sweeter by introducing Connabon Iced Coffee! These 15 ounce cans are packed with the iconic connamon roll and cream cheese frosting flavors we love. Cinnabon Iced Coffee is rolling out now at convenience stores, grocers, and dollar stores nationwide. The average cost is $2.68 per can. To sweeten the deal, you can enter to win an alarm clock that wakes you up to the smell of fresh connabon rolls. The alarm clock has a mini fridge to keep your coffee chilled. The giveaway is running from April 29 to May 20. Enter to win by following @indelight on Instagram, like the sweepstakes post, and comment with #idicspringwakeup.

2. Detach

I heard the author of Detach, Bob Rosen, on a recent episode of the Live Happy Now podcast and was immediately interested in getting the book!  Does it sound like it could be helpful in your life? 

Our lives are guided by our attachments. When they’re healthy, they offer us security, pleasure, and validation. But for many of us, something has gone awry. We’re distracted and sabotaged by these attachments, like control, perfection, or success, which morph into internal conversations that undermine our best selves—ultimately inhibiting our ability to live a full, happy life.

The antidote to the poison of unhealthy attachments? Trading them in for positive aspirations.

Rooted in a blend of Western and Eastern psychology, supported by research, and told through the stories of real people from all walks of life who have overcome their own self-sabotage, Detach walks readers through the ten unhealthy attachments many of us carry, as well as the ten positive aspirations we can use to combat each one of them. Equipped with newfound self-awareness, readers will learn to:
     - Improve their health, wellbeing, and quality of life
     - Experience the freedom that accompanies reaching one’s full potential
     - Get rid of their baggage to fully embrace an abundant, meaningful life
     - Trade disappointments for joy, worries for peace, and fear for love

Detach is your personal guide for life-altering change, offering a chance to reflect on how you might be standing in the way of your own success—as well as the tools you need to overcome your anxiety and rewrite your story.

Available HERE

3.  Another Simple Favor

Ohhhh - this Prime Video movie looks so good!  And two of my favorite actresses, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, are starring in it!  Another Simple Favor streams started yesterday (May 1) and I hope we can carve out some time to watch it this weekend.  Here's the summary ~

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reunite for this sequel to their 2018 comedic thriller Simple Favor. This time, the setting is the beautiful Italian island of Capri, where Lively’s Emily is getting married to a wealthy businessman after her release from prison. Naturally, the guests include crime-solving mommy blogger Stephanie (Kendrick) — who won’t get much time for canapes, since the nuptials include a new bouquet of murder and double-crosses.

4.  Silky Secret Hypochlorous Acid Spray

Looking for an easy way to clean your makeup brushes? Look no further than Silky Secret Hypochlorous Acid Spray! I'm obsessed with this stuff—it's my go-to for sanitizing my red light mask, all my brushes, and even my skin. It effectively removes dirt, oil, and impurities, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.  Love it!

Available HERE

5.  Around here...

Have a great weekend!  I'm off to pick strawberries at our local orchard this morning.  Then I'm coming home to make snacks for our Bible study group tonight.  Glad I can take my time and do all the things today!  See you next week!

What I Read in April 2025

Hi there, and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today, I’m sharing what’s been on my mind lately—and I’d love for you to link up and share your thoughts too.  It's the first Thursday of the month and this is when I share what I read the previous month.  Let's look at what I read in April!

Story of My Life by Lucy Score

I have fallen in love with Lucy Score's books.  She wrote the three-book Knockemount series (Things We Never Got Over, Things We Hide from the Light, and Things We Left Behind).  Story of My Life is the first book in her new Story Lake series.  Unfortunately, the second book in this series isn't coming out until March of 2026.  This one was a fun read!  Here's the summary ~

A Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek redemption romcom.

Hazel Hart was a successful romance novelist until a breakup drives her straight into writer’s block. Having failed (and failed some more) to deliver her new manuscript, she’s hiding from the world behind a wall of old takeout containers until her publisher lays down the law. If she misses her next deadline it’s The End.

Desperate for inspiration, Hazel impulse-buys a historic home online and flees Manhattan to tiny Story Lake, PA. Upon her dramatic arrival—involving an incident with a bald eagle—she discovers the charm of her new home may have been slightly exaggerated.

The house is a wreck and the town is struggling after their biggest employer shut down. Also, since her raccoon-infested home came with a seat on the town council our introverted heroine is stuck with a front row seat to all the small-town shenanigans.

But Hazel isn’t worried. Not since all six-feet-three inches of grouchy contractor Campbell Bishop slapped a bandage on her forehead and unintentionally inspired the heck out of her. There’s only one thing to do: Hire Cam and his equally gorgeous brothers to renovate her new spider museum… er… house.

Okay two things. A fake date for “research purposes” will really put her work-in-progress on track. Before Hazel knows it, she’s writing a romance novel and living one. At least until the drywall dust settles, the town she’s falling in love with faces bankruptcy, and growly Cam remembers why he can’t live happily ever after.

Available HERE

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

This is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series.  The first three books I couldn't read fast enough.  They were spicy and fun!  This one didn't have the same appeal.  It was fine, but definitely not my favorite in the series.  Here's the summary ~

As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.

Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it’s suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.

Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless… Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?

Available HERE

Betting on Good by Wendy Francis

This was one of my Amazon First picks from last month.  It was an okay read.  Especially for free!  Did anyone else pick this one?

A Kentucky Derby weekend for two couples tests the high-stakes boundaries of friendship and marriage in a witty, winning, and emotional novel by the author of Feels Like Summer.

Amid the heralded springtime traditions and fabulous splendor of the Kentucky Derby, two Boston couples—longtime friends—indulge in a once-in-a-lifetime getaway. The weekend feels like a winner.

It’s a milestone-birthday present for the newly—and reluctantly—turned forty Drew Starling. Her husband, Nate, has spared no expense, despite the mounting gambling debts that Drew knows nothing about. He’s certain that with his lucky charm, Drew, by his side, he can reverse his misfortunes at Churchill Downs. Joining them are friends Leslie and Graham, floundering in a twelve-year marriage that desperately needs a change of scenery, a new spark. Graham especially looks forward to being in the Starlings’ charmed orbit this weekend, though he won’t say why.

When the bourbon begins to flow and the horses thunder down the track, secrets and simmering tensions soon spill. As sure as the bugler’s call and the winner’s purse, the stakes of marriage and friendship on this revelatory weekend have never been so high.

Available HERE

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I loved this book! It's actually our May selection for the library book club I'm in.  I thought it was April, but it wasn't.  So now I'm a month ahead in my book club reading!  LOL  This mystery kept me guessing through the whole book.  

A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.

The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Available HERE

When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning

This was actually our book club book for April! I read it super fast so I could finish before book club.  It was such an interesting read.  Very informative and intriguing.  

When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned 100 million books. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops, gathering 20 million hardcover donations. Two years later, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million specially printed paperbacks designed for troops to carry in their pockets and rucksacks in every theater of war.

These small, lightweight Armed Services Editions were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy, in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific, in field hospitals, and on long bombing flights. This pioneering project not only listed soldiers’ spirits, but also helped rescue The Great Gatsby from obscurity and made Betty Smith, author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, into a national icon.

Available HERE

The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens

I'm on a roll with series - this is the third book in a five-book series by Allen Eskens.  I loved the first two books (The Lies by Bury and The Guise of Another).  This one didn't disappoint either!  

FEATURING THREE CHARACTERS FROM THE BESTSELLING BOOK-CLUB FAVORITE THE LIFE WE BURY, THIS NOVEL EXPLORES A RIVETING MURDER CASE TOLD FROM TWO OPPOSING PERSPECTIVES. Detective Max Rupert and attorney Boady Sanden’s friendship is being pushed to the breaking point. Max is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was killed by her husband, Ben. Boady is equally convinced that Ben, his client, is innocent. As the case unfolds, the two are forced to confront their own personal demons. Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier, and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn’t taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn’t. Now he is back in court, with student Lila Nash at his side, and he’s determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past. Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the truth about the stunning death of Jennavieve Pruitt remains a mystery until the very end. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Available HERE

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - April 30, 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

Save

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

15 Yummy No Bake Desserts

Terra Cotta Inspired Table Styling

Creamy Chicken & Linguini

Vintage Birdcage Spring Plant Vignette

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 - April 25, 2025

Hello!  I'm coming at you from a work trip today to share my five for this week.  I've been in New Orleans since Tuesday and have had a wonderful time.  But as much as I'm enjoying being here, I'm equally excited to get home on Sunday!  Thankfully, I was able to pull together a Five on Friday post.  Here goes ~

1.  The Accountant 2

I'm really excited to see The Accountant 2! I loved the first movie with its unique blend of action, suspense, and surprising emotional depth, so I'm curious to see where the story goes next. With Ben Affleck returning as the complex and brilliant Christian Wolff, I’m expecting even more intense sequences and smart twists. It’s definitely one of the sequels I’ve been looking forward to!  Here's the summary ~

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

2.  The Paris Novel

Okay, I'll admit that any book with the word "Paris" in it I probably want to read.  This week Ruth Reichl's newest book titled The Paris Novel came out and immediately went on my TBR list.  Here's the summary ~

Stella reached for an oyster, tipped her head, and tossed it back. It was cool and slippery, the flavor so briny it was like diving into the ocean. Oysters, she thought. Where have they been all my life?

When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading “Go to Paris.” Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. But when her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother’s last wishes.

Alone in a foreign city, Stella falls into old habits, living cautiously and frugally. Then she stumbles across a vintage store, where she tries on a fabulous Dior dress. The shopkeeper insists that this dress was meant for Stella and for the first time in her life Stella does something impulsive. She buys the dress—and embarks on an adventure.

Her first stop: the iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots, where Stella tastes her first oysters and then meets an octogenarian art collector who decides to take her under his wing. As Jules introduces Stella to a veritable who’s who of the Paris literary, art, and culinary worlds, she begins to understand what it might mean to live a larger life.

As weeks—and many decadent meals—go by, Stella ends up living as a “tumbleweed” at famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, uncovers a hundred-year-old mystery in a Manet painting, and discovers a passion for food that may be connected to her past. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.

Available HERE

3.  Slip

Summer is coming.  This is a friendly reminder: some summer dresses can be made from super sheer fabric. Throw on a slip underneath—no one needs a peek at what’s underneath your outfit!

Available HERE

4.  Bath and Body Works Laundry Detergent

I made it my mission for 2025 to step up our laundry game—and Bath and Body Works totally delivered! We’ve been using their detergent on our sheets and towels, and the scent is absolutely heavenly. I’m usually pretty sensitive to laundry products, but this one hasn’t caused any issues at all. Crawling into freshly washed sheets has never smelled so good. I’m officially done with regular detergent!

5.  It's the little things...

Wishing you a great weekend! I’ll be out of town until Sunday, but I’m determined to make the most of my very short weekend when I get home. Catch you next week!