Five on Friday - July 8, 2022

Happy Friday!  Boy, have we had a week.  We've had three six-year-olds with us since Tuesday and it's been an adventure!  It's going to be so quiet around here on Sunday when they go home.  Surprisingly, I've found a couple quiet moments to pull together my Five on Friday post ~

1.  Thor:  Love and Thunder

Ok Marvel fans, you have a new movie to watch this weekend.  Thor:  Love and Thunder opens today!  Here's the summary from Fandango ~

Thor embarks on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced -- a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who -- to his surprise -- inexplicably wields his magical hammer. Together, they set out on a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher's vengeance.

2.  Amazon Prime Day

Get ready - Amazon Prime Day is coming July 12-13.  If you're not a Prime member, now's a great time to sign up for a free 30-day trial.  Click HERE to get started.  Prime Days are always a great time to get remarkable deals.  

3.  The Bachelorette

Get ready Bachelor Nation, Monday is the premiere of The Bachelorette.  We are hosting a viewing party because it's just more fun to watch with others!  I am a little intrigued by this season since they are having two bachelorettes.  Host Jesse Palmer claims this season will break all the rules.  Can't wait to see Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia make this season the most dramatic season EVER!

4.  Dairy Queen Summer Blizzard Flavor

It's summertime at Dairy Queen and they're celebrating by introducing two new flavors:  Oreo Dirt Pie and Caramel Fudge Cheesecake.  The Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard is made with Oreo cookie pieces, gummy worms, and fudge crumble blended with DQ's signature vanilla soft serve.  The new Caramel Fudge Cheesecake Blizzard is a fudge-covered salty caramel pieces with cheesecake pieces blended with vanilla soft serve.  They both sound so good!

5.  It's been HOT...

Have a great weekend!  We'll be over here soaking up the last of the kids' visit.  See you back next week!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - July 7, 2022

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I talk about something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same.  My post today is going to be short and sweet because we have three very special visitors with us this week ~

As soon as Eric got home from work on Tuesday, we headed to my hometown to scoop up our nephews and niece.  These three six-year-old rambunctious, funny, smart kiddos are bringing us a lot of joy this week!  

We have a week full of activities and I'm not sure who's more tired at the end of the day - me or them!  On our first full day, we hit up Sky Zone, took in the new Lightyear movie, and got wet at our local splash pad.  

Today we're headed to the St. Louis Zoo!  It's going to be a hot one, so if it gets too unbearable at the zoo we'll head back to Sky Zone.  Our big surprise is coming on Saturday when we take them to Six Flags!

In between activities, they are loving working out of the baskets they had upon arrival.  I filled them with crayons, markers, coloring books, color-by-number books, and lots of other fun stuff.  I know I've mentioned this before, but it's worth another shout-out.  The chalkboard tablecloth is on the table and they love doodling on it!

So basically all I'm thinking about today is having fun with the kids and soaking up all the joy before they leave this weekend.  What's on your mind today?  Link up and share!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - July 6, 2022

Welcome to this week's blog hop full of summer inspiration including 20+ healthy road trip make-ahead breakfast recipes!

Five on Friday - July 1, 2022

Happy July!  Thanks for stopping by today to see what's on my five for today ~

1.  The Staircase

We have been watching The Staircase on HBO Max.  What a totally bizarre story!  It's inspired by a true story and explores the life of Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth).  Michael is accused of killing his wife (played by Toni Collette).  It's quite the twisted tale!  Have you seen this show?

2.  Suspects by Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel's newest novel was released this week.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Theodora Morgan is fashion royalty. Founder of a wildly popular online shopping service, she is one of the most successful businesswomen in the world, although she prefers to keep a low profile, especially over the last months. It was a year ago when the unthinkable struck her family, and her husband, industry mogul Matthieu Pasquier, and their son were kidnapped and held for ransom—a nightmare that ended in tragedy.

The case has gone cold, despite evidence linking the crime to Matthieu’s Russian competitors. Theo has reluctantly gone back to work running her company. On the flight to a launch party for one of her highly anticipated pop-up shops in New York City, she crosses paths with high-society networker Pierre de Vaumont. Theo politely invites him to her event—unaware that Pierre has been flagged by the CIA.

Senior supervising CIA operative Mike Andrews investigates Pierre’s suspicious Russian contacts and clears him to enter the country, but when he realizes that Theodora Morgan is on the same flight, he becomes concerned for her safety. Posing as a lawyer, Mike begins a covert mission—starting with Theo’s opening party. When Mike and Theo meet, their connection is instant, but Theo is completely unaware of Mike’s true objective or identity… or that the life she is rebuilding is in grave danger.

3.  Big Cheez-It Tostada and the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme

The ultimate collaboration is taking place between Taco Bell and Cheez-It.  The two new items on Taco Bell's menu are made with a giant Cheez-It.  Doesn't Cheez-Its make everything better?  The Big Cheez-It Tostada swaps the standard hard shell for a supersized Cheez-It.  The Crunchwrap Supreme is also made with a giant Cheez-It.  I just might have to check these out this weekend! 

4.  National Postal Worker Day

Guess what today is - it's National Postal Worker Day!  Today's the day to say a special thank you to the crew that ensures your mail is safely tucked away in your mailbox day after day.  Approximately 490,000 postal workers across the United States head out each day to get our envelopes and packages to us.  Let's show them a little appreciation today!

5.  Travel tip...

Have a wonderful weekend!  Eric and I will be celebrating this 4th of July at Fair St. Louis.  Sunday and Monday we'll be on the fairgrounds, selling Thelma's Ice Cream Sandwiches.  Eric started working for Thelma's almost a year ago and absolutely loves it!  This will be our first event - wish us luck.  Whatever is on your agenda for this weekend, I hope you have a wonderful time and stay safe.  See you next week.

What I Read in June

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of June!  So today for Thinking Out Loud Thursday I'm thinking about the books I read this month.  After I do my recap, you're invited to link up and share what you're thinking out loud about today.

June was a great reading month.  I'm a very slow reader and I managed to finish three good books this month!  Let's take look at them ~

I belong to a book club at our local library and this month's selection was The Survivors by Jane Harper.  I loved The Dry by the same author and was looking forward to digging into this book of hers.  

My rating:  3.5 out of 5

Honestly, The Survivors disappointed me a bit.  It wasn't as good as The Dry.  Not that this book was bad, it just didn't keep my interest as intensely as The Dry had and I was hoping it would.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences.

The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn.

When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away...

Next up was Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult.  I actually listened to this one and found every time I had an extra minute I was anxious to listen to more. There is a huge twist that literally made me gasp out loud when it happened.  Netflix already has the rights to make this book into a movie.

 

My rating:  4 out of 5

Amazon summary ~

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

The third book I read this month was the freebie from Amazon First Reads.  I choose The Brighter the Light.  I was excited to turn the pages and see what was happening next.  It was mildly predictable but still had some surprises.

My rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon summary ~

When a shipwreck surfaces, old secrets are sure to follow.

Or so goes the lore in Ivy Neale’s hometown of Nags Head, North Carolina. When Ivy inherits her family’s beachfront cottage upon her grandmother’s death, she knows returning to Nags Head means facing the best friend and the boyfriend who betrayed her years ago.

But then a winter gale uncovers the shipwreck of local legend—and Ivy soon begins to stumble across more skeletons in the closet than just her own. Amid the cottage’s clutter are clues from her grandmother’s past at the enchanting seaside resort her family once owned. One fateful summer in 1950, the arrival of a dazzling singer shook the staff and guests alike—and not everyone made it to fall.

As Ivy contends with broken relationships and a burgeoning romance in the present, the past threatens to sweep her away. But as she uncovers the strength of her grandmother and the women who came before her, she realizes she is like the legendary shipwreck: the sands may shift around her, but she has found her home here by the sea.

Have you read anything good lately?  I'd love to hear what your favorite reads have been.

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

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 29, 2022

 Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and thanks for stopping by! I hope your week is off to a great start. 

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

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Weekending - June 24, 2022

This weekend was one of pure rest and relaxation for us!  Here's the recap ~

We had purchased tickets to see the new Elvis movie Friday night and were both excited to see it.  The movie definitely didn't disappoint!  Two thumbs up from both of us.  Austin Butler has Elvis's mannerisms down pat.  

My latest order from my new favorite Etsy job, ADVdesigns, arrived on Friday.  I love the personalized note that comes with each order!  See the blue star ones - those are going to be perfect for the 4th of July!

Saturday we spent most of the 100-degree day floating around in our son and daughter-in-law's pool.  It was so peaceful!  I love my new Kindle Paperwhite that I got for Christmas this year.  Honestly, I haven't used it a ton, but it's perfect for reading outside.  It's also waterproof, so if it would happen to fall in the water it wouldn't have been a big deal.  

I was reading the book The Brighter the Light, the free book I choose from the June Prime First Reads list.  If you haven't picked your book for June yet, I recommend this one.  Sometimes the free books don't really excite me, but this month was an exception.  

We grabbed pizza for dinner and settled in on the couch to watch Jerry and Marge Go Large.  It's currently streaming on Paramount Plus.  Have you seen the previews?  It's really cute!  The movie is inspired by the true story of retiree Jerry Selbee, who's smart enough to find a loophole in the Massachusetts lottery.  Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening deliver solid performances and it was fun to see Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) in it too.

The heat of Saturday gave way to a stormy, cloudy Sunday morning.  We lounged around in the morning and then decided to take a little road trip south to have lunch at The Blue Owl restaurant in Kimmswick, Missouri.  Kimmswick is a quaint little town full of shops, a winery, and the famous Blue Owl Restaurant.  The owner, Mary Hostetter, has been featured on The Oprah Show, The Food Network magazine, and Midwest Living magazine just to name a few.  She was actually working the hostess desk when we arrived on Sunday!  

Even though lunch filled us up, we had to spring for dessert!  Eric decided on the butterscotch pecan pie and I got a piece of carrot cake.  So good!

Inside the restaurant, there's also a bakery.  Everything in the case looks fantastic!

After lunch, we strolled around the town a bit checking out several of the shops.  Then we drove to the nearby Mastodon State Historic Site.  There is a museum inside the visitor's center that houses displays, artifacts, exhibits, and an interpretive video.  This site is also home to three hiking trails.  We made a note to visit again in the fall when the leaves are turning.  

On our way home, we swung by Eckert's to get some of their freshly picked peaches.  Soon you will be able to pick your own at their orchards.

Sunday evening I caught up on reading a couple new magazines I received last week.  Magazines are still one of my favorite things to read from hard print.  

And that's a wrap on the weekend!  This week I'm going to finalize the plans for my niece and nephew's upcoming visit.  I also have some bridal shower invitations I'll be finishing up.  Fun times ahead!  Hope your week is off to a great start.  See you back here soon!