Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - December 15, 2021

 

Christmas preparations are in full swing and I hope that in all of the busyness you are able to enjoy the beauty of this season. Spending time with those we love and the joy of giving is at the top of my list! If you have some last-minute gifts to get or like me, you are still decorating, I know you will be inspired by all of these talented bloggers this week! So grab a steaming cup of hot chocolate brimming with marshmallows and relax by the light of your Christmas tree.

Join this week’s blog hop to find inspiration from dozens of bloggers for all things home and family including crafts, decor, DIY, fashion, recipes, fitness, gardening, travel, home improvement, 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 never know when it will be your turn to be our next feature!

Before we get the party started, let's meet the hosts and check out this week's features.

Meet The Hosts

1. Ahna - HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Anne & AnnMarie - SIMPLY 2 MOMS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Angela - THE SHORT ORDER COOK | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Bev - ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Cindy - SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Kera - HAUTE HOUSE LOVE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
9. Penny - PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
10. Sinea - DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
11. Tammy - MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST
12. Tara - STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST

Top Viewed

Latest Finds At The Thrift Store by Thrifting Wonderland

Very Popular

Christmas In The Morning Room

Mix and Match Christmas Table by Thrifting Wonderland

Farmhouse Christmas Mantel Decor

Editor's Choice

10 Ways To Style a Dough Bowl

I am in LOVE with the idea of how to style with snacks for Santa and his reindeer!

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 - December 10, 2021

Happy Friday friends!  It hit me this week how close Christmas is.  I've been trying to be present and enjoy all the moments.  This weekend we'll be joined by a friend of mine who is coming to visit.  I can't wait for her to get here and the fun to begin!  

Before all the weekend action starts, here's my five for this week ~

1.  And Just Like That

It's back!  The Sex and the City reboot called And Just Like That started yesterday on HBO Max.  I loved Sex and the City and am so excited that the girls are back!  Three of my friends and I got together last night to watch the first two episodes that were just dropped.  It was a fun little viewing party complete with cosmos!  

2.  Being the Ricardos

Do you love Lucy?  The description says "Shocking personal accusations, a political smear, and cultural taboos threaten the relationship between Hollywood power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz".  I've always been intrigued with Lucy, so I'm adding this one to my list of movies I want to see.

3.  Sips By

You've heard me talk about my Sips By box before, but since we're getting close to Christmas and some of you might still be trying to find gifts, it's worth mentioning again.  If you have a tea lover in your life, this subscription box is perfect for them!  After anwering a brief survey letting them know what kind of tea you prefer, a curated box of four different teas arrives in your mailbox each month for you to try.  I get mine delivered to work and it's such a nice surprise every time a box arrives.  I've found some of my favorite teas from the samples I've received.  If you'd like to gift this to someone, or to yourself, click HERE!

4.  Christmas Earrings

Looking for some festive earrings to wear this holiday season?  Check out the nine-pack available from Amazon!  With Prime shipping, you'll have in plenty of time to enjoy each pair before the big day.  Or divide them up and share them with all your friends!

5.  I love Hallmark movies!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!  I'm taking a vacation day today and trying to cross off a few holiday-related items like gift wrapping and card making off my list.  We have so many fun things going on next week so I need to use my time wisely today!  Hope to see you back here soon!

Christmas 2021 Three-Tier Stand

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday where I share something that's on my mind and invite to you link up and do the same.

One of the happiest days of the year for me happened a few weeks ago.  It's the day my friend Carol and her crew come to my house to decorate for Christmas.  I leave for work in the morning with bare trees and boxes of decorations sitting around.  When I arrive back home everything is decorated and beautiful!  (See why I think it's one of the happiest days of the year!)

Today I'm sharing the three-tier stand.  Our three-tier stand sits in our kitchen window.  Over the years, the decorations have spread out beyond just the stand and are now covering the entire window space.  And that doesn't make me one bit sad because it looks fabulous!  I can't thank Carol enough for her magic touch on transforming the area into a little winter wonderland!

We are picking up our niece and nephews next week and they will be spending the weekend with us.  One of the activities I have planned is for them to write letters to Santa.  Guest where we will be depositing them ~

Carol added the Santa mugs this year and they are the perfect touch!

The whole area puts a smile on my face.  It sure makes standing at the sink doing dishes a lot merrier!

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!

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Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - December 8, 2021

WELCOME!

              

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I just love seeing all of the Christmas lights, beautiful Christmas trees and trying new recipes for all of those holiday get-togethers. Do you need inspiration this year? Well, we got you covered here on the Wednesday Blog Hop!

We are so glad that you are here.  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.

Don’t forget to use this hashtag #wwbloghop when sharing our party!  Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS

• Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Anne & AnnMarie – SIMPLY 2 MOMS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Angela – THE SHORT ORDER COOK | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Cindy – SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Jana – HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Kera – HAUTE HOUSE LOVE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
• Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST
• Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST

TOP VIEWED

A Special Christmas Tribute by Hammers-n-Hugs

Very Popular

Some fun December Quotes by Sarah Kay

140 Christmas Ideas from Hammers-n-Hugs

My Life Abundant shares Holiday Gift Guides

Editor's Choice

A delicious Christmas breakfast dish by Ducks 'n a Row

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

Weekending - December 3, 2021

Weekends this time of year are precious.  We used every single second of this past one and have some great accomplishments and memories to show for it.  Eric worked hard to get our Christmas lights up on the outside of the house.  I have been wanting lights on the outside of the house since we moved here over a decade ago.  This year it finally became a reality!  

Friday night we attended the celebration of life for our friend's son.  He left this earth way too soon and his parents planned the most thoughtful celebration to remember him.  They handled the evening with so much grace.  One of the touches I thought was so heartfelt was Jackson's mom made a vase out of his Legos.  

Saturday morning we were up early to drive to my hometown in time to see our nephew play basketball.  It was fun watching him!  It was also a tad bit nostalgic.  The game was held in the gym of the high school I graduated from many, many years ago.  

It was also the school where my mom and dad graduated.  As a matter of fact, my dad's class was the very first class that graduated from that building.  After the game, we walked the halls of the school and I showed Eric all our graduating class photos.  

We visited with my parents a bit then hurried home so Eric would have some daylight to work on the house lights.  We wrapped up early because we had a date to see James Taylor!  We met our friends for dinner at Lorenzo's on The Hill beforehand and then made our way over to the arena to see the show.  Jackson Brown opened and James Taylor joined him on stage for a couple songs.  

When James Taylor took the stage, he entertained the crowd for over two hours.  It was 17 songs long and absolutely wonderful!  During the encore, he even played a song with his son.  A night we'll never forget.

Sunday we Eric finished the outside lights.  If you had been driving by our house at dark, you would have seen us standing in the yard like Clark Griswald turning on his lights.  Luckily they all came on just like they were supposed to!

Five on Friday - December 3, 2021

Happy Friday!  December is here and we are trying to wrap up all the holiday preparations so we can sit back and enjoy the season.  We're not there yet, but we are getting closer!  In the meantime, here's my five for this week ~

1.  Hallmark Christmas Movies

One of my favorite things about this time of year is all the Hallmark Christmas movies.  When we have a weekend morning that's not booked with activities, you can find me hanging out in my bed glued to the TV watching whatever Hallmark Christmas movie happens to be on.  If you are watching with friends and not planning on driving anywhere, you might want to play this Hallmark drinking game.  

 

There are also bingo cards you can print from The Kittchen blog.  Click HERE to visit that blog and print the cards.  Combine the two and have a party!

2.  National Cookie Day

Warm up those ovens because Saturday is National Cookie Day!  Bake up an extra batch and share with your neighbors.  If making a batch from scratch is a little too much, grab a bag of frozen cookie dough at the grocery store and pop them in.  We've been getting bags of Thelma's frozen cookies recently and they are delicious!  Pick up a bag and give them a try.

3.  Atlas of the Heart

Have you heard of Brene Brown?  Her words on courage and vulnerability are so inspirational!  Her latest book, Atlas of the Heart, came out this week and it is going straight on my wish list.  Here's the summary from Amazon ~

In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.

Over the past two decades, Brown’s extensive research into the experiences that make us who we are has shaped the cultural conversation and helped define what it means to be courageous with our lives. Atlas of the Heart draws on this research, as well as on Brown’s singular skills as a storyteller, to show us how accurately naming an experience doesn’t give the experience more power, it gives us the power of understanding, meaning, and choice.

Brown shares, “I want this book to be an atlas for all of us, because I believe that, with an adventurous heart and the right maps, we can travel anywhere and never fear losing ourselves.”

4.  New Standards

Kenny G is releasing his new album today.  This is his first new album in 6 years.  New Standards features 11 original compositions inspired by the jazz ballads of the 50s and 60s.  Can't wait to hear Kenny G's renditions!  

5.  Christmas tip...

We have a busy schedule this weekend!  The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and that's great because Eric is going to be hanging our new Christmas lights outside.  Saturday we're traveling to my hometown to see our nephew play basketball, then hurrying back to St. Louis to have dinner with friends.  After dinner, we're going to see James Taylor in concert.  I'm so excited to see him!  Sunday I'm going to try to work on making our Christmas cards for this year.  So much fun happening!  Hope to see you back on Monday for a recap.

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - December 1, 2021

Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, everyone is rushing around getting ready for Christmas. Every day that goes by the shelves get emptier that were once overflowing with Christmas decorations and trees. Just in case you aren't completely done with your Christmas decor and menu planning, this week's features should help you out!

Join this week’s blog hop to find inspiration from dozens of bloggers for all things home and family including crafts, decor, DIY, fashion, recipes, fitness, gardening, travel, home improvement, 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 never know when it will be your turn to be our next feature!

Before we get the party started, let's meet the hosts and check out this weeks features.

Meet The Hosts

1. Ahna - HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Anne & AnnMarie - SIMPLY 2 MOMS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Angela - THE SHORT ORDER COOK | FB | IG | PINTEREST
4. Bev - ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
5. Cindy - SIMPLE STEPS FOR LIVING LIFE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
6. Emily - LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
7. Jana - HARVESTING HOME | FB | IG | PINTEREST
8. Kera - HAUTE HOUSE LOVE | FB | IG | PINTEREST
9. Penny - PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
10. Sinea - DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
11. Tammy - MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST
12. Tara - STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST

Top Viewed

Putting decorations and greenery on your chandeliers is an ever increasingly popular trend. I will admit to doing it myself now and then. Here are some ideas to help you get on board with it!

Very Popular

One of the best places to get ideas to help with your holiday decorating is to check out home tours. You'll love this one!

Editor's Choice

There are some wonderful tips and vintage treasures discussed in this blog post sharing southern charm for Christmas.

Whether you'd walk a few miles in the snow for a slice of cheesecake or not, you have to admit this Christmas Cheesecake looks like a "must try"!

I hope these have inspired you and that you will join us this week in linking up some of your own ideas.

Don't forget...

Be sure to grab our Specially Featured graphic below if your post was featured this week, and hyperlink it to this post on your blog or sidebar. We love showing you off!

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