Friday Favorites ~ May 1, 2026

Happy May!

 The theme of this week has been exhaustion for me.  Just plain 'ol moving tired.  I am sore and tired, but I do love my new place!  I am really enjoying being at home.  It has been great to almost have a full week in my new place!  Here are a few favorites from the week....

Monday I went to meet my new great nephew who is 2 1/2 weeks old now.

I ate dinner on my little patio Monday night.

Wednesday, I took a walk before working from home and a walk that evening.  I am hoping to do this more and more after I get all my furniture assembled.

A few pictures from around the new place of some favorites....My new curtains!  I ordered these from Wayfair and love them. I still have some shelves to add and will move a few things around in this corner before I call it done.

I had so many boxes delivered this week and scooting them around by myself I think strained my back.  Ugh, this is one of those times I miss help. 

I assembled 4 new bar stools! My daughter's boyfriend did come by Thursday evening for a bit to help me assemble a new bed and a coffee table.  I have an entertainment center to assemble this weekend, but there are 30 steps to it!!  Oh Lawd!  I hope to get a lot more done this weekend and maybe, just maybe by the next weekend, I can have most of the inside complete, except for hanging a few pictures.  And just to say it one more time, but not the last, I am so thankful for my new home I am loving!  I am thankful for this good reason to be tired, busy and happy to be at home!

Other favorites are all the reels I watch that make me laugh every day!

This is part 1 of 2.....

Part 2 made me giggle, especially about assembling furniture!

Hope you enjoy your weekend and Happy Derby Day tomorrow!

Thanks for reading friends!

Hodgepodge ~ April 29, 2026

 Happy Hodgepodge Day!  Love being a part of this with Joyce each week.  

1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why. 

My words would be reset and restart for May!  I am resetting with some new habits in my new place.  I am going to try to cook and eat at home more. I have traveled a little bit the past few weeks and now that I am back for about a month, I want to reset with habits of taking my daily vitamins, walking, & making my bed.

I am restarting with a new home with new furniture!  I am so thankful for my new place.  This week will be my first full week here!

2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favorite form of art? Elaborate.  

On a daily basis, my favorite is for sure music.  I listen to it so much in my car and at home.  I have music playing much more than I ever turn on the tv.  I am so behind on most of my tv shows because I am usually listening to music and don't take the time to sit down and watch shows, although I hope to do that soon.  

I am a huge fan of theater too though!  My dad started us young taking us to plays.  My first one was Annie and I dreamed as an elementary student to be on Broadway.  That was my goal, but I didn't have the singing voice, so I never pursued it.  I was in some local theater plays and high school plays though.  We love going to plays in New York City and see a lot that come through locally.

On one of my trips to NYC, they had these displays set out in Times Square.  These are some of my favorite plays I have seen!  Some other favorites are 42nd Street, Back to the Future and I consider Phantom and Les Mis as classics too with great music.

I also have to choose architecture because a month from today, I will have a daughter who has graduated with her degree in architecture! 

3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers? 

I like to eat around 5:30.  Some days, I eat a little earlier and if I meet up with some one else, it may be a little later. 

I have no problems with eating leftovers.  I have no shame with taking home leftovers or food that anyone gives me :).  That being said, if I have a lot of leftovers, I will eat the food once as leftovers and freeze the rest.  Thankfully, I always have a freezer full of food because I bring home so much from events or from random things I have cooked.  

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating? 

My daughter and I went to see the Michael movie last weekend.  I loved it because I love the music (most of it) of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.  After the movie, I did some investigating on his family.  Michael Jackson died in 2009, his father in 2018 and his mother is still living at the age of 95. 

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...

At what are you 'self-taught?' 

I have taught myself how to live on my own.  I take care of all of my finances, little home repairs, errands, technology, cooking, & of course, making sourdough!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am so thankful to have curtains hung in my bedroom!  Two of Jenn's boys came over last night, along with Jenn, to do this for me.  I needed help with installing the curtain rods.  Now I have found a few more things for them to hang for me in the next few weeks!  And if you are wondering whose pictures are on that side table, yes it is my daughters & Huey Lewis from the last time I met him. :)

Have yourself a wonderful hodgepodge day!

Hello Monday ~ April 27, 2026

 Hello Monday blog friends!  I took a little road trip on Thursday and came home Sunday. I had a work event, but the bonus is I was able to spend time with my oldest daughter too!  

Thursday, I took my time driving and even stopped for an oil change along the way on my road trip.  I wasn't in a hurry to arrive, so it was good to get something practical done instead of leaving this on my to-do list back home.  

Friday morning, I worked some in my hotel room and then met up with my daughter for a trip to Sam's.  Of course I bought a few things that I had not planned, but that's what Sam's and Costco does to you! I asked her to take me to Cava afterwards since we don't have these in Memphis. We got lunch to go since I had to report to my work event at 1pm.  

Here is a funny thing I saw on her bar cart at her house...

Friday evening, we met up with one of her friends and her mom who was in town.  I had an excellent salad with brussel sprouts, apple slices, feta cheese, pecans and grilled chicken.

I suggested ice cream afterwards.  If you danced when walking in, they gave you 10% off your bill.  I didn't see the sign, so I danced at the register and they gave me the discount :).

2 scoops just seemed more economical!

I came back to the hotel and did some random things on the computer, including prepping for Waydays on Wayfair.  

Saturday morning, I worked at my event and then was free after lunch.

I found this framed picture of butterflies at my daughter's house.

I mowed her grass Saturday afternoon and ironed a stack of clothes for her while she did some other things around her house.  It was such a joy to be there and be able to help her.  We grabbed some dinner to go and mine was delicious.  I had brisket, broccoli mac-n-cheese, fried okra and a biscuit.  Can you say Southern? And delicious too!

We stayed at one of her friend's homes where she was house sitting for the night.  I sipped a little wine on the back patio in a plastic UT cup :).

We were up early Sunday because she had to prepare for Senior Sunday at her church.  I ran two errands for her and then arranged flowers.  It was so fun to do this and to know I was helping her.

I had a long drive back home and took 2 detours because of traffic.  I unpacked and made up this flower arrangement with some leftover flowers I brought home.  I walked to church for a dinner and came back home to do a few other little things around the new home.  I hope to get lots more checked off my list this week, but if you're wondering, this does feel like home and I'm so thankful! I am hoping to meet some neighbors soon too.

Have a good Monday and thanks for reading!

Friday Favorites ~ April 24, 2026

 Happy Friday friends!  Here we are at another weekend and April has seemed to go by faster than any other month so far.  I am so happy for the spring months to be here! Now for a few favorites from the week to share....

I am embracing my new surroundings and loved walking to church on Sunday!  It is only about a 7 minute walk from my door to church.  

Another favorite was my first piece of mail was from Tanya!  What a sweet surprise.

Until I get some more things in place and share more photos, you will see glimpses of my new place on the blog.  Below is a single serve Keurig I purchased off Facebook Marketplace this week.  I was thankful to get this at less than half of the price of a new one.  I don't drink coffee, but this will be good to have for my daughters, guests or if I want to use it for tea or hot chocolate too. I love the pop of color!

I was back at work this week enjoying my favorite new drink, Diet Coke with lime, along with my lime chips and guacamole for a mid-day snack.

After work Tuesday, I went to a local high school's girls softball game. My friend/co-worker went with me. It was a beautiful night!

I actually did a little cooking this week in my new place!  I made scrambled eggs and bacon one morning and then I cooked dinner Wednesday night for my parents.  They came over to see the new place and it was an honor to cook for them.  I hadn't done this in so long. I am so thankful for them and wouldn't be where I am today without their love and support. Also, I am so thankful I decided to have an apartment on the first floor so my mom could come see me.  I hope she can come back another time, but it was all worth it just for this visit.

I made salmon, roasted potatoes and asparagus and had some bread. I also made some Sweet Loren chocolate chip cookies.  Have you tried this brand?  It is a packaged make and break cookie dough that is gluten free and dairy free & it still tastes so good!

Another favorite is that Jenn lives so close and I live within walking distance of her nail salon, so I love that she can stop by for a visit!  She actually took that picture of me and my parents.

A favorite thing I did at my new home is hooking up my tv and getting it all connected to internet with all of the streaming channels without losing my mind, ha!

I still have clothes to organize, pictures & curtains to hang, furniture to buy (I am looking at you Wayfair Days this weekend!), and boxes to organize in my garage.  I did get this picture hung in my bedroom though.  I bought this bench about a year ago off Facebook marketplace from a friend and I bought this painting of marketplace too recently for $5!

Now to leave you with a funny thing I saw online this week...

Have a great weekend!

Hodgepodge ~ April 22, 2026

 Hi friends!  Thank you for all your sweet comments regarding my recent move!  I am so thankful for this community! Now on to Hodgepodge with our lovely hostess, Joyce!

1. April 22nd is Earth Day...what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it. 

I visited Machu Picchu, Peru in 2015.  During this time, we were living in Colombia and took a family trip there.  It is truly one of the most amazing places I have ever seen.  Did you know it is one of the wonders of the world?  Here is some more information in you are interested or don't know much about it:

Machu Picchu is a wonder of the world due to its extraordinary 15th-century Inca engineering, breathtaking mountain-ridge location, and its ability to remain hidden for centuries. Built without mortar, wheels, or iron tools, this showcases precise, earthquake-resistant ashlar masonry. 

It is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 7,970 ft above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region in Peru, above the Sacred Valley, which is 80 50 mi northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows.

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas” (a title more accurately applied to Vilcabamba), it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.

2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it? 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

On a side note, these verses remind me of Maria from "Sound of Music" because she quotes this during the movie.

The song I immediately thought of is "Planet Earth" by Duran Duran.  Along with Huey Lewis, I have always been a Duran Duran fan since the 80's.  

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

I am not sure if it is trivial but in traffic, I have a strong opinion of people driving slow in the left lane.  I am also not a fan of being micro managed.  I could probably list more things here if I thought about this a little longer, so I will move on to the next question :)

4. What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool? 

I use a standard blender several times a week to make a smoothie.  I made one Sunday night for my dinner!

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

Well, I am honored to play a small part in the weekly Hodgepodge! 

Right now my greatest extravagance is a 2 car garage attached to my new apartment.  I actually didn't live in a home with a garage until I was 46 years old. Since that time, I have loved having this luxury.   To have a 2 car garage with an apartment is rare, so I am calling this my extravagance!  It is also coming in quite handy to store lots of things in the open garage bay until I can get a little more organized.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

In my unpacking, I have somehow tackled all the spaces but have left my bedroom and closet for last.  This was not my initial plan, but somehow, the other areas are all mostly set up, but not the bedroom.  I do have my bed and bathroom functional, but my closet is a mess.  I need to go through my clothes and organize.  I actually did go through a good bit before I moved, but going to a place that is a little more than half the space of my old house, sorting through things will be a process. In the meantime, if you hear my ordering a new dress, make sure I have gotten rid of at least 2 in its place or someone come stop me!

Also, my computer somehow thinks I have changed time zones!  I just moved 10 minutes away, ha!

Go enjoy your day!