Bachelor Recap on Thinking Out Loud Thursday - March 14, 2019

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  So glad you popped in!  If you're a blogger, please link up your latest post and share what you are thinking about today.

Tuesday night wrapped up "the most dramatic season ever" of the Bachelor and I'm still in disbelieve that I invested approximately 24 hours of viewing time over 10 weeks to watch Colton's quest to find love.  Holy cow!  I spent many of those hours shaking my head at the girl's reactions and conversations.  It's like a train wreck - I just couldn't look away and kept coming back week and week for more.  Were you perched on your couch watching it too?  Please don't tell me I was the only one hanging on week after week.



Spoiler alert - The 27 year-old Colton did find the love of his life in Cassie, who is a 23 year-old speech pathologist from Huntington Beach, California.  But before he got to the end, he had to send 29 girls packing.  All in right around 6 weeks of filming!

Were you as sick as I was with Chris Harrison talking about Colton being a virgin?  Jeez, give that a rest!  And if you were like me and thought that former bachelor Sean Lowe was also a virgin, let me clear that up for you.  Sean had had sex with girls but decided at age 24 that he was going to abstain for religious reasons from having sexual relationships until he found his forever partner.  Today he is still married to his final rose recipient Catherine Giudici.   Have you seen pictures of their adorable two little boys?  So precious!

You might have noticed that Colton didn't put a big Neil Lane ring on Cassie's finger.  Neil Lane donates the ring in exchange for the promotion he gets from the show.  It's also a fact that the couple has to stay together for 2 years after the final episode if they want to keep the ring.

If you're wondering what Colton has been up to since filming The Bachelor, he has a new song out that he sang with O-Town.  Who knew he could sing?!?  It's called Hello World and is a fundraiser for his Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation.  The foundation assists cystic fibrosis patients.  I'm still very unclear on what the guy does to pay the bills.  

BUY IT HERE

If you're glued to the TV on Mondays watching the Bachelor franchise shows, we have a little reprieve until May 13 when the premiere of The Bachelorette debuts.  Hannah B (do you think they'll drop the "B" since she's the only girl in the mansion now?) will put her heart on the line and search for true love in Season 15.  Hannah, Miss Alabama 2018, is a 24 year-old interior decorator.  Wonder if she'll do a little decorating in the mansion between handing out the roses??

Now it's your turn.  What's on your mind today?  Link up and share!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - March 13, 2019

Welcome to our blog party! Most of you are well-versed in how blog hops work. If you are new to blog hops, though, this simple definition of a blog hop may help. A blog hop is an online event where bloggers share links to their best posts. Guests also come by and look through the list of posts, visiting the ones they like the most. They may find a really great recipe to save or a creative idea (DIY, craft project, home decor, etc) to try, get some money making tips and on and on. You do NOT have to be a blogger to enjoy a blog hop. If you like browsing through magazines, you will love visiting blog hops! Our party features posts that our visitors viewed most the previous week. Here are the ones you visited most LAST week! This time around we had a tie for the "most viewed" category:

Most Viewed

Cozy Breakfast Nooks - Ducks 'n a Row

 

Simple Spring Decorations for the Kitchen - Clean and Scentsible

 

Very Popular

Brown Sugar Loaf With Maple Icing - Kelly Lynn's Sweets And Treats

 

Benefits Of Weighted Blankets My Experience - Engineer Mommy

 

Make Ahead Bacon and Egg Hashbrowns Casserole - My Mommy World

 

Editor's Pick

Instant Pot Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe - Crystal & Company

 

So, let's get this party started! Please follow our co-hosts on social media or subscribe to our blogs by email:

BAKES AND BLUNDERS [Colleen] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST

DUCKS 'N A ROW [Sinea] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I

ECLECTIC RED BARN [Beverly] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

ENGINEER MOMMY [Jennifer] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

LeCULTIVATEUR [Emily] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

MY LIFE ABUNDANT [Tammy] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

PENNY'S PASSION [Penny] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE [Cindy] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

STILETTOS and SHIPLAP [Tara] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

THE SNYDER FAMILY [Brittany] - FACEBOOK I INSTAGRAM I PINTEREST I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SUBSCRIBE

Simple party guidelines >>­

• Please TWEET our party ♥
• Add as many of your family-friendly posts as you would like to. No Etsy shops, adult sites or blog parties, please.
• Visit others. Let them know you stopped by!
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• NOTE: party entries appear in REVERSE. i.e. the most recent entry goes to the top! That way all of our guests will have a chance to be seen no matter when they arrive.
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St. Patrick's Decoration Tour

St. Paddy's Day is right around the corner and at our house we are decked out and ready!  Let's take a look ~

We love to greet our guests with a little holiday spirit from the minute they pull into the driveway.  Our St. Patrick's Day mailbox cover has been going strong for several years.  Love those magnetic wraps!

The front porch is compliments of my friend Carol.  She made the wreath on the front door and the arrangements in our planters.

The mantel is the focus of the family room.  I made the fabric garland years ago and it's still as good as new.  The blocks are also made by yours truly.

One of my favorite place to put a holiday enhancement is the guest bath sink.  I found this subway art on Pinterest, printed it out and put it in a frame.  Easy peasy!

My daughter-in-law and son gifted me a three-tier tray for my birthday and I've had the most fun decorating it for all the holidays.  I'm having a ball finding the new items to doll it up.

Hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day! 

Weekending - March 8, 2019

Happy Monday!  Boy, that lost hour really caught up to me this morning.  I had a very hard time rolling out of bed and getting my day started.  On the flip side, I loved looking outside last night at almost 7:00 pm and still seeing sunlight!

Our weekend was packed with fun.  Here's the recap ~

The highlight was celebrating Ian's birthday on Saturday night.  I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my baby is twenty-eight years old!  I truly miss his growing up years, but am so proud of the man he's grown up to be.

Now let me back up a bit.  Friday night was pretty low key for us.  I wrapped Ian's present and was finally able to spend some time with the new Rachel Hollis book, Girl Stop Apologizing.  It did not disappoint!  Rachel really speaks a language that charges me up and gets me motivated.  

                                   

HERE

Saturday morning we woke up to the sound of thunder and lighting.  We were headed to a local university to help with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee, so I really wasn't too disappointed that it was forecasted to rain all day.  I mean, we were going to have to be inside most of the day and it gave me a chance to wear my rain boots (that I LOVE!).  

The Spelling Bee is always a fun time.   Eric and I have helped out for several years and look forward to it each March.  Our friend Tracy works also, so I whipped up these note cards for her ~

In the grading room, it's all things bee - complete with snacks and goody bags!

Of course, I came home and immediately started searching for that adorable bee for my Nora Fleming platter only to find out it's discontinued.  Darn it!  I'm planning a viewing party in May when the National Spelling Bee is televised on ESPN and it would have been perfect to use.  

As I mentioned above, Saturday evening we spent with Ian and Kayla celebrating Ian's birthday.  We watched the end of the hockey game, went to dinner and then had cake to round out the evening.

Sunday morning we did manage to make it to church on time despite loosing an hour.  After church we popped in Noodles and Company for lunch.  I am in love with their Zucchini Truffle Mac!

The rest of the day was spent with my nose in Girl Stop Apologizing and I'm not even sorry about it.  I'm sure I'll have the whole book read by the end of tonight.  Have you read it?  It's good guys!

Pop back in tomorrow and check out our St. Patrick's Day decorations.  I'm excited to share them with you!  

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

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Friday Favorites LInky Party - March 8, 2019

Welcome to Friday Favorites!  We have some fabulous links for you today.  Enjoy!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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

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

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

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

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Thinking Out Loud Thursday - March 7, 2019

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  This has been a short week for me because I was off work on Monday.  Speaking of being off work, that's what I'm thinking out loud about today ~

Last weekend Eric and I had a little mini vacation.  We flew out Friday morning with a couple of our friends to Florida.  Being the baseball fans that we are, catching a few Spring Training games is something we always enjoy and were excited to be heading south this year to cheer on our St. Louis Cardinals.  We managed to get to four games in four days.  Lots of baseball fun!

What I love about going to Spring Training equally as much as the games is the fact that we stay right on the ocean.   There is something about hearing the waves crash into the shore that is like music to my ears.  A feeling of peace and serenity washes over me.  I often wonder if I lived near the ocean if I would start taking it's calming effects for granted.  I'll tell you one thing, last week I didn't take a single minute of my time on the beach for granted and loved every second of it!  While we were soaking up the sun in 80 degree weather, our friends back home were waiting out a snow storm in single digit temperature.

Friday night we followed the Cardinals to the Houston Astros ball field in West Palm.  It was a stadium we hadn't been to before, so we took a stroll around.

When we stopped at the foul pole, a couple of the Cardinal players happen to be headed to the locker room.  They stopped to sign a few autographs and we were able to snap a few pictures.

As an added bonus, Friday night happens to be when they have a fireworks show after the game.  Win for us!

After a great night's sleep and a wonderful morning walk on the beach, Jupiter was our destination for Saturday.  The Cardinals were playing in their home stadium and it felt good to be back on familiar turf.

After the game, we ventured to The Square Grouper Tiki Bar.  What a fun place to hang out after a game!  They have live music and a fabulous view of a waterway complete with a lighthouse!

Sunday it was back to Jupiter to take in our third game.  I have to admit, our stadium has some really good food!  The street tacos and bar-b-que nachos were pretty tasty.

Even though the food at the stadium was fab, we decided to enjoy dinner out Sunday night.  The Magic Oyster was located across the street from our hotel so we dined on seafood.  We definitely didn't go hungry over the weekend!

Eric, being the best husband that he is, got up with me at the crack of dawn Monday morning.  Seriously, we got up to watch the sunrise on our last morning.  Some things are just too beautiful to let them pass by you without taking it all in.

Monday we followed our beloved Cardinals half way across the state to Lakeland to see them take on the Detroit Tigers.  

We sat in our seats and soaked up the last bit of sun before heading back to our frozen tundra.  What a fabulous way to spend a few days!  The trip may be over, but the memories we made will last the rest of our lives.  Can't wait until next time!

What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!  I would love to hear from you.

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