Friday Favorites ~ February 7, 2025

 Happy Friday everyone!  I texted a friend this week and typed out Happy Friday, then realizing it was only Tuesday, ha!  So, glad it is Friday and hope you've had a good week! Mine was busy, but here are a few highlights.

Monday, I worked all day, went to my dance lesson and then a trip to Lowe's.  My dance lesson was fun, but it had been 2 weeks, so it took me a little bit to remember some of the moves.  

Tuesday, I drove to Chattanooga to work there for the afternoon.  I went to this cute new restaurant/shopping area in a suburb of Chattanooga.  The weather was beautiful!  I met someone for work at a coffee shop and we sat outside to visit.

This may sound crazy to some of you, but I do really enjoy staying in a hotel by myself.  While I also love company, I am thankful this is something I also don't mind doing alone.  It is rare I travel for work, so I do enjoy it when I get a little road trip.

Wednesday

I surprised my daughter this morning on her birthday!  She had no idea I was in town and I had arranged with one of her co-workers to meet them at a restaurant for breakfast.  She took a video of the event and this is a still shot from the video.  It was so fun to pull off this surprise.  I was thankful to sepnd a few hours with her and hug her neck on her birthday.

Of course, I wore my socks with her picture on them!

I had sourdough avocado toast with eggs and bacon.

Thursday 

I was back in town for work Thursday morning.  Right after work, I went to my niece's house to see most of my greats.  I hadn't seen them in several weeks, so I was overdue for some hugs and fun with them.  I took them a lot of stickers and paper and it kept them quite entertained!

I am always thankful to see Friday come!  

Today is work and I actually work this weekend too due to a work event.  

In addition to seeing my daughter and greats this week, another favorite was having an impromptu dinner with one of my dearest friends.  It was just the gift I needed at that time.  

Due to traveling and literally not being at home hardly at all this week, I missed the book link up and will catch up this weekend.

I hope you all have a great Friday and weekend ahead!

Talking About it Tuesday ~ Birthday Day in the Life

 Whew, I am a tired girl, but full of love and support!  I am doing a little birthday Day in the Life from yesterday.

I woke up at 3:30 yesterday morning after some terrible dreams unfortunately.  That was the 4th time I had woken up so I decided to play a worship playlist from Spotify.  I finally got up around 5:30 and started forming my sourdough since I had set out my starter Sunday night.

I wore my 11/11 bracelet on my birthday!  I wear it all through November.

Due to lack of sleep, I used some eye masks as I was getting ready.

One of my sweet families who love on me often called via Facetime and their girls sang Happy Birthday to me since they knew it was my first birthday to wake up alone.

I met Jennifer for breakfast.  It was delicious and fun to catch up with her.

After breakfast, I met another friend at a coffee shop and I enjoyed a hot tea.

I then went to lunch.

My outfit of the day

I stopped at Ulta and picked up this free gift.  I have a few more freebies to pick up throughout the month.

I came home to rest and started this Hallmark Movie. I talked on the phone some and responded to lots of texts, Instagram and Facebook messages.

I got ready and went to my birthday party hosted by some friends at her neighborhood clubhouse.

It was my favorite type of food.....appetizers!

My boss and work roommate came and I am so glad to call them friends!

Two dear friends from my old church

My girls were in each of these girls weddings. I always call them my "young" friends since I met them all when they were in college and are at least 15 years younger than I am.

This has been a sweet friend to me for the last 20 years and she came and drove me to the party.

These are all precious friends who go to my current church with me.  I'm so thankful!

These are friends I have known for the last 20 years at least.  We all homeschooled our kids in the early years and went on many a trips together.  Love them!

Y'all know my precious friend Jennifer!

These friends all shared a sweet word to me and it was so, so encouraging.  It was such a special time for me.  I wish I could have written it all down. I got more birthday gifts than I think I have ever received on a birthday!  I got such a variety of things and also got so many Christmas ornaments and decor!  I bought a new tree this year and so many purchased a Christmas themed gift for me.  I am so excited to decorate! Look at all these goodies!  The 3 pillows were gifts too!

I brought home these flowers and these were also birthday gifts I received!

I came home, did another prep to cold proof my sourdough bread then worked on the blog.  

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and following along with me on this day!

Hello Monday Birthday Edition ~ November 11, 2024

 Hello Monday friends & Happy Veteran's Day!  I am thankful for all who have sacrificed and served to protect our country.  

Today is this little girl's birthday.

Yes, that is me!

Last Thursday night, I went to family dinner house at my sister's house after work and they had a triple chocolate cheesecake for me and sang happy birthday.  I loved being surrounded by my greats for this.  

Friday after work, I joined 3 friends and we went out of town for the weekend to an Airbnb about 3 hours away.  The house was decorated for Christmas!

It was rainy until Saturday afternoon and we took a 2 mile trail in the state park nearby.  There were babbling brooks along the way and then a beautiful waterfall.

We came back and had birthday cake since 3 of us have November birthdays. 

We were only gone 48 hours, so it was quick, but we didn't go out to eat any.  We each brought food for a meal so other than paying for the place to stay, none of us spent any money on the trip, other than a trip to Sonic!  Our Saturday night meal was gumbo and cornbread and it was so good.

I am thankful to have another birthday, another year of life to celebrate.  I also love having a November birthday when it feels like fall and everyone is in the holiday spirit.  This is my first birthday in all 54 that I have woken up alone and will go to bed alone, so that definitely feels different.  However, in between that time, I have lots of celebrations so I am looking forward to the day!

Have a great Monday friends & thank a Veteran!

Friday Favorites/20th Birthday ~ October 18, 2024

 Happy Friday October 18!

October 18 is a very special day....it is my youngest daughter's birthday!  

As of today, I no longer have a teenager.  This girl turns 20 today & I am so thankful she is in town.  She flew in last night to stay for the weekend.  I haven't seen her the last 2 years on her birthday, so this is quite the treat.  

Clearly, celebrating her is my favorite!

Here are a few old pictures.....

March 2008

October 2008 

May 2009 

2013 

2022

2024

Have a great weekend and I'll be back next week with more life updates.