Friday Favorites ~ April 11, 2025

 Happy Friday!  I am always so glad to see a Friday come!  Today, I am sharing some things from my week going back to last Sunday.

Does anyone remember the song Voices Carry by the group Til Tuesday from the 80's?  I loved that song and had the cassette tape :).  I heard a version of the song by Kate Hudson Sunday.  I had no idea she even sang, but I loved this version too!

After this song, it went straight into Have Yourself a Merry Christmas.  I mean, it was in the upper 40's and overcast, so it kind of felt like Christmas weather!

Because last Sunday was a hard day, I treated myself to frozen yogurt for my lunch.

Monday morning, I worked for a few hours and then I went to take this precious little new 3 year old out to lunch and shopping for her to pick out a birthday gift.  She picked out several :). I loved looking back at this sweet girl in my car.

Tuesday morning I started my day by picking up 14 dozen donuts to serve at the local children's hospital.  We serve these along with 250 Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits to families.  I picked up a diet coke to share with my co-worker!  That evening, I gave a new friend a ride to run an errand and also had a quick visit with my parents.

Wednesday was another busy day!  I worked and ran lots of errands for work, including a trip to Costco.  I hadn't been there in about 6 months.  I also got a car wash after such a messy week last week. 

Wednesday night, I had a ladies event at church and we had some good appetizers.

Thursday, I worked, walked and Jenn came over to eat and visit.

Today, is another busy work day and I'm hoping to have a good weekend!

Unfortunately, this has been me this week.  I am sure hoping to catch up on sleep this weekend.  Hope you enjoy your Friday and weekend!

Thanks for reading friends!

Hodgepodge ~ April 9, 2025

 Good morning!  I'm joing in with Joyce on this week's hodgepodge edition.

1. What's a lesson you've learned from a mistake? 

A few things come to mind that I have learned......

I don't have to say everything I think.

I don't have to entertain everything said to me with a response, especially if I know it is unture and hurtful.

A man and woman shoudn't work exclusively by themselves.

My worth is not based on what anyone else says/does.

2. Do you salt food while you're cooking or let diners add their own?  What's a food you think must be salted? Do you like pepper? 

I am about 50/50 as to when I salt food as a I cook.  Of course, I would have to cook to add salt, ha, ha!  I actually did cook some egg bites last Sunday and cooked pork chops on Monday and I didn't salt either.  However, I added Everything But the Bagel to the pork chops, so I do like seasonings.  I don't have a food that I think must be salted.  I do like pepper and use it on baked potatoes.

3. What was the last gathering you attended and what did you do there? 

The last few gatherings I went to were church on Sunday, community group Sunday night and I went to an elementary school production of Finding Nemo Jr. Monday night.  I was basically a sitting participant at church and helped with cleaning up/tear down afterwards since we don't have a permanent building.  I brought roasted veggies to my community group and just enjoyed the play Monday night.  

4. Your favorite shade of purple? What's your favorite purple flower? 

As a child, my favorite purple was Donny Osmond purple.  Any young Osmond fan knew purple was his favorite color! These days, I think lavendar is such a pretty color, although I don't wear that color.  When I think of a purple flower, I think of a pretty Iris flower.

This is my sister and I from probably 7 or 8 years ago when we saw Donny & Marie in our area.  We had been to Las Vegas the year before and met them at their residency show, so we wore our t-shirts to this concert.  They are really good entertainers.

5. Share a favorite spring travel memory. 

Two trips come to mind....

First, my youngest daughter and I went to Pawhuska, Oklahoma in 2019 (I think) to visit Pioneer Woman's lodge and mercantile/restaurant. We had so much fun, but it was sure full of the Oklahoma winds!

While living in Bogota, Colombia, we took a family vacation one Spring Break to Cartagena.  This was such a great trip.  It is a beautiful city and felt good to be able to travel on our own within the country. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

About a month ago, my oldest daughter shared this song with me and I love it.  It has meant so much to me:

"Don't Lose Hope" by Cochren & Co.

I wish that I could change the weather

Just to see your smiling face

You know I'm with you come whatever

We're gonna see the brighter days

Don't lose hope when the world is against you

Every high, every low, I am for you

Don't let go when you're at the end of your rope

I'll hold you, darlin', don't lose hope

I'll stay here with you 'til the morning breaks

Until the light moves past the dark

I'm gonna see you through this heartache

You're stronger than you think you are

We can make it out alive

Oh, you know that I believe it,

Even after the darkest night

Oh, the sun will shine and you'll feel it

Oh, don't lose hope, no, don't lose hope

Don't lose hope when the world is against you

Every high and every low, I am for you

Don't let go when you're at the end of your rope

I'll hold you, darlin', don't lose hope

Have a happy mid-week Wednesday!

Talking About it Tuesday ~ Amazon Fashion

 Good morning.  Thanks for your kind words yesterday.  Monday was a good day and I am encouraged for a new week ahead.  Yesterday I shared some random Amazon purchases and today will share some recent fashion purchases from Amazon.

Lace ruffle dress

This dress is so cute in any color!  I bought it in brown red and would be tempted to buy another one in a different color. 

Boho button midi dress

This is another darling dress that I would buy in any color.  And it has pockets!!!

Striped shirt dress

This is another dress that has pockets for the win!

Cap sleeve sweater

I originally ordered this sweater in beige, but then realized I have another sweater very similar to that color.  I liked it so much, I ordered this in dusty pink.

Gold hoops

Amazon is my go-to place for a lot of earrings.  I like these, although I wish the hoops were a little thicker, but I still wear these so many days of each week!

Compression socks

If this doesn't say I'm over 50, I don't know what would.  Honestly, I had to start wearing these when I was 30 due to blood clots.  From time to time when I get some leg pain or am traveling/sitting for a while, I definitely need to wear compression socks to ease pain in my legs.

Have a great Tuesday & thanks for reading!

2-n-1 Post: Amazon Prime/Hello Monday

Good morning blog friends!  I am sharing a few highlights from 2 link ups today. First up is Amazon Prime.  Today I have a few finds from 2025.  Tomorrow I will share fashion finds on Amazon.

Safety Key chain

I wanted to have an alarm I keep on me for safety reasons.

Cozy slippers

I needed some new slippers and these are cute and comfy!

Body brush

Anyone else out there dry brush?  My niece told me about this, so I try to do this several nights a week.

Cooling sheets

I ordered some new sheets last week that are cooling sheets.  I will see how they feel when it really gets warm.  I am thanful it hasn't been too warm yet!

Nail concealer polish

I heard great things about this polish on several influencer Instagram accounts.  This is a very neutral polish and it will last about 4 days without chipping, which is pretty good for me without using gel or dip.

Dance shoes

Most of you know I have been taking dance lessons the past 6 months.  I finally bought me some practice shoes.  They are really comfortable too!  

My weekend began by spending time with my great nieces and nephews.  I celebrated my great niece's 3rd birthday Friday night.

Me and one of her big sisters.  This girl always gives me the biggest hugs and I can't get enough of them!

I spent Friday night at my parents to help with my mom while my dad had somewhere to go.  I came home Saturday and it was torrential rains and storms all day long. So many roads in our area are flooded.  I am so thankful there is no rain in the forecast this week!  I was able to get a few things done at home and had some sleepy time tea in this mug I found while going through old things.

Sunday, I went to church and had community group that night. The in-between times were hard, as Sundays often are for me.  I cried a lot, but have realized to embrace all my tears and know they are a constant part of healing that is just part of my journey until Heaven. 

Have a great Monday!

Friday Favorites ~ April 4, 2025

Once again, I am thankful for an upcoming weekend.  Today, I am working and celebrating a 3 year old's birthday later tonight.  I am excited about that!

I am still baking sourdough each week.  I make a round loaf and also a more traditional bread loaf. Sourdough is a favorite!

I took a walk on Monday and Tuesday, which were so nice before the rain, storms and flooding arrived.

This is a cool bridge where I walked with a friend on Monday.

I then enjoyed walking around Tanger outlet center and found a sweater and shirt on winter clearance.

I honestly rarely make my bed, but I did purchase new sheets this week.  I pulled up the covers after I put on the new sheets, so felt like I needed to take a picture!  I purchased white sheets that are labeled as cooling sheets.  With a little warmer weather coming, I needed some new, cooler sheets.

One of the painting projects I mentioned on Hodgepodge this week was done on my back porch.  There were a few panels that had never been painted. Here are the before and afters, with not all of these pictures taken in the best light.

Be safe and enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

 

Share Your Shelf ~ April 2025

 Hi friends!  It is the monthly Share Your Shelf to share books you have been reading.  

Join in on the link below!

These are the 2 books I am currently reading this month:

An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.

“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.

It’s all starting to come together for struggling artist Sadie Montgomery. She was just named a finalist in the national portrait competition of her dreams. But when she winds up with a rare, but real, condition where human faces look like jumbled puzzle pieces . . . it is, to say the least, not good.

With only a few weeks to paint the best portrait of her entire life, Sadie will do anything to reverse her condition and get back to work, but it’s anyone’s guess when (or even if) that'll happen.

Enter her dog’s charming veterinarian (who may or may not be Sadie’s daydream fiancé), and her bowling-jacket-wearing, Vespa-riding neighbor (who she can’t seem to stay away from)―both vying for her attention and adding to the chaos.

It’s a lot, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Because the truth is, seeing the world differently has its upsides. And love has an undeniable way of giving us courage. And the best way of looking is always, always with the heart.

Have a great Thursday and hope those of you who are getting stormy weather are staying safe.

 You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Hodgepodge ~ April 2, 2025

 Happy Hodgepodge Wednesday!

1. No foolin'! April is here. What's one fun thing on your April calendar? 

I have not one, but two trips planned for April!!  The first is to meet my girls and see some extended family.  The second is a girls trip with some people y'all just may know! I will share more about that of course later in the month.

2. It's often said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted'...what's the last thing you wasted money on? 

I am trying to not be too wasteful these days with money.  The first thing that comes to mind is buying snacks I don't need.  

3.  April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person? If so, what's the last thing you DIY-ed. If you're not a DIY-er what's the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete? 

I will do some painting and random fix it things around the house since I live alone.  The most recent job someone was hired to do was to rake and bag all of the leaves in my yard.  The last thing I painted was some panels on my back porch that had never been painted.  I will try to remember to take pictures and post them on Friday.

4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

I do not like lamb.  I do not plan on trying lamb.  I will not eat lambs or dishes that calls for lamb. Sam I am. 

5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain. 

I definitely fit the stereotype of enneagram 2.  According to AI, here is  a description:

In the Enneagram system, a Type 2, often called "The Helper" or "The Giver," is characterized by a strong desire to be loved and needed, leading them to be empathetic, nurturing, and generous, but potentially also people-pleasing and self-sacrificing. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am honestly dreading the amount of rain we are expected to get between now and Sunday.  I realize we need the rain, but I am hoping it won't be as constant or strong storms as predicted.  As the old saying goes, April showers brings May flowers!

Thanks for reading and have a good day!