Friday Five

Happy Friday everyone! Not only is it Friday but it’s a Friday before a holiday… Could it be any better day of the week? Nope, not possible!!!

As you’re reading this I am headed to my parents house for the Fourth of July weekend! It will be a weekend full of family and fun in the lake and I cannot wait to start it. I promise I will be posting a lot.

Let’s get started for my Friday five…

1.  This is gonna look like it’s an advertisement for Aldi’s but it’s not. Or, maybe it is as I’ve been finding so many things lately that I love there. I found this awesome tin in the toy aisle.  My family has always played the license plate game on trips ever since we were little kids. We would just keep track on a piece of paper when we were kids. Now that we are adults, we all have a download app that we use on our phones. But this magnetic game looks amazing. It has these cute little spongy license plates that are magnets and you stick them onto the state when you see that license plate. The state license plates are not flimsy at all… This is really a quality car game. It was only $5.99 at Aldi‘s. there were other car games too but this is the only one I purchased… I recommend you run and get yourself one!

 

2. This next item also comes from Aldi‘s. I can’t recommend that you run and get it because it was on an end aisle with a bunch of other lemon things and it was limited time only. I actually went back to purchase more because I love them so much and my Aldi‘s is all sold out. I think these were like $8.99? When you love something you have to buy multiples because it just may not be there the next time you go back. If you like lemon these are a dream come true! 

3. And I promise this is not an ad for Aldi‘s so the last item that I love this week is the last item from Aldi‘s. They always have the cutest and most fun cat and dog toys. I got my cats two toys this week each were $7.99. My cats adore them.

This first one is white and has a battery. You push that little white button and it spins around and shoots a laser around your house. It runs for about three minutes and then it shuts itself off. My cats are obsessed with this thing!

This second toy that’s a blue has no battery. You fill it with treats and wobbles on the floor like those old weebles used to do. When the cats bat at the toy or balls on it with their paws,  it drops treats out. Best $8 ever spent- lol!!!


4. My fourth obsession is this amazing honey. I just picked this up on the way home from Nicaragua. We bought it in the airport in Iberia, Costa Rica. It is absolutely to die for!!!! I wish I had bought more!!! I have been eating a small drizzle a day on a small plain cracker… it is sooo yummy! I will be seeing if they will mail order this product!!!!

5. Lastly I will leave you with my favorite summer pie recipe!! I believe I got this recipe from a blogger many years ago; if it was you please reach out to me so I can give you your deserved credit. It is delicious!!! And easy!!! You mix together 1 tub of whipped topping (I used low-fat generic brand), 6 oz frozen lemonade concentrate (I could only find pink lemonade so I used that), and one can of sweetened condensed milk. Mix that all together well, pour into a graham cracker crust, and freeze! That’s it! I promise it is delicious!!! I sometimes add extra lemon zest or lemon concentrate because I love “puckery” lemon flavor.

That’s what it looks like prior to freezing. Top with lemon zest or thin lemon slices if you have them! It is my absolute favorite pie for a hot summer day!!!!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July holiday!!! 

Hugs to you all!!!!

Friday Favorites - Aldi's

HAPPY FREEKIN' FRIDAY YA'LL!!!

I am so excited for the weekend!! Today on my lunch hour I am getting my tires rotated and then I am headed up to see my parents and sister this weekend! That means spending lots of fun time with family this weekend - yippee!!

One of my favorite stores is Aldi's. Are you seeing a trend here? I enjoy a great bargain for a quality price!!

This is not a sponsored post. I truly just wanted to share with you my exciting favorites from Aldi's in case you have not yet been to one. 

This week I found this awesome buy! It was the roast, veggies and seasoning all in one package. It was only $8.99 for everything. I threw it all in my crockpot and it has feed me many dinners and lunch this week.

Two:  The second thing is these Aldi versions of laughing cow cheeses. They cost less than $2 so they are way cheaper than Laughing Cow brand and they taste exactly the same! Also, they are 10 calories less than laughing cow wedges!! Only 25 calories a wedge.

Three:  Every week they have specials and fun buys. This week they had these flowers in a glass vase for $2.99!!! It smells awesome and it is so nice to see a flower everyday!! Ahhhh....

Four:  Their blue cheese crumbles are the cheapest I have found. And delish too1 I use them all my salads.

Five: And lastly, I love these! I tried the expensive brand and these are less than $2 at Aldi's and they taste exactly the same!! Try them - I promise you will love them!

That's it for my five favorites!! I could go on and on as I try to buy all my veggies and fruit there too. I have not been able to try everything yest - so, if you shop there - what are your favorites?  They have great quality fruits and veggies for much more reasonable prices than the grocery stores around me.

I hope I helped you find a new favorite today!! I promise you will love it if you have one near you!

Happy weekend everyone - I hope your weekend is filled with fun and happiness!!

Anyone else love Aldi's? What are you favorites? Anything you think I should try? Any exciting plans for the weekend?

Five Favorite Gifts from Christmas 2018

Happy Friday!!!

Today I thought I would recap my favorite gifts from Christmas this year!! My family knows me so well and they were all so super perfect but here are the top favs...

One: Laundry Hamper and mug (from my little sister, brother in law and their kids)

I actually asked for one of these but they brought it OVER THE TOP with the handle and wheels!!! This is awesome!!! The mug has the faces of her kids on it! It is my new favorite!!!


Two: This sign (from my little brother, sister in law and their kids)

I am not sure what Etsy seller they got mine from but it is just like it! How cute is it?!?! Perfect for the lady with four cats!! HA HA! It has a lint roller hanging from it!! It is already hung at my front entryway!!


Three: This Pandora Dazzling Wishes bracelet and jewelry case (from my mom and dad)

Perfection!!! I love the bracelet and the case is absolutely adorable!!!



Four:  This mug (from my older sister, brother in law and their kids) This is not just any old thermal mug guys!! This is free coffee for an entire month!!!

You all know I love my Starbucks, right?!?! I don't drink foofy coffee...just straight up brewed coffee goodness! Well, every year my sister gets me the January mug! It costs $40 at Starbucks and you get free refills (once a day) at Starbucks for the whole month of January!!! It is the best gift ever if you know a coffee lover. Only works for brewed coffee and tea...none of the fancy stuff!

Five: These socks (from my older sister, brother in law and their kids)

These socks are for my barre class!!! Are they not the cutest things ever with the mesh top?!?!? I may or may not have an obsession with collecting barre socks!! HA HA!

And above all - I got the gift of FAMILY TIME!!! There is nothing that refreshes me more than spending time with my family!!!! I love each and every one them so very much!!!

I came up with the idea for this post as I wrote my thank you notes! I loved everything I got!!! It was all fantastic and spot on!!! I could not possibly want for more!!!

What were your favorite gifts? Ever re-gift anything? Did you get a really terrible gift this year?

5 on Friday, Friday Favorites, etc.

My newest thing is printing off quotes and hangin them aorund my desk at work, and kitchen and bedroom at home.

Just little reminders that help life go a little smoother...

Here are 5 of my favorites right now...

ONE:  I love this saying. We talk a lot about things go in recovery. It is really hard to stay sober and clean if you dwell on the past and past mistakes. So we really stress living in today, being the best person you can be today and moving forward with your life! Let it go!!!

TWO: I don't think I ever updated you guys on the man situation so I will now since it applies to this quote. I like this quote because it is so true. I honestly thought that after a life changing experience (double stroke to be exact); my ex-boyfriend would change his ways and actually see it as a second chance to change his life. Needless to say, he did not. He is continuing to act in the destructive ways he always has and on top of that, continuing to be a miserable and nasty human at times. I got rid of that from my life once and now I remember why. I am not shutting him from my life; just putting him in the category of friendship only so he has chosen to stay away because of that. We all get to make choices...I am good either way...

THREE: And this...which explains why the ex BF does not qualify!!  I would be SHOCKED if anyone came along at this point that did...but miracles happen when we least expect them ;-)  (Although, all of you married folks that read my blog got the last of the good ones!!)

FOUR:  I am consistently amazed at what I can accomplish when I quit second guessing myself and believe in myself! I do this all the time! I have horrible and negative internal dialogue "I am not good enough" I can't do that!" "I am not able to do that" "I will not be able to handle that" - but once I allow myself to try...I SUCCEED!!

FIVE:  And finally...I believe we create exactly what we think we are capable of. We scare ourselves into not trying at all and then we create the outcome we most feared!
 

Whatever you are afraid of or worried about - tackle it now and get it over with - YOU CAN DEFINITELY handle it!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am hoping to finish my flooring this weekend so fingers crossed - I will be completely done when I check back in on Monday!!! WHOOP!!!

Any plans for the weekend? Anything you are procrastinating with because of fear? Any other happily single ladies or men out there? Anyone else let someone from the past back in only to find out nothing had changed?

 

My Five on Friday / Friday Five

Good morning blogging besties~~~

I hope everyone has been having a great week! 

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!

UPDATE: Abby is the Starbucks winner!!! Send me your email and I will send you your Starbucks!!!

These are the five things that are currently rattling around in my mind...

ONE:  If you follow me you will know that I I have been preparing and talking a lot about my companies upcoming Halloween Party for Variety Children's Charity!  It is such a blast every year: the kids and families that attend are amazing and precious and it is a bigger party every year!!!

This year the theme is Star Wars!!! Over the past few weeks, I have spent many an evening folding these little doozies to leave around and decorate the food tables! The are actually papers you print out in color and fold into the characters. They take forever!!!!

The gangs all here!!!!!!!

 

TWO:  After careful consideration; I have decided to go in a non-Star Wars costume. People go with the theme and some deviate. I usually go with the theme but this year I cannot relate to any of the characters that much so I am deviating A LOT! Here is my costume...

I think it will be hilarious and the kids will love it!!! HA HA~

THREE:  If you look at the top left hand side of the Star Wars picture above; you will see the plaque that I proudly display on my desk at work. Here is what it says...

It keeps everything in perspective!!! I cannot believe the party is next week already!!!

FOUR:  I will be heading to Jackson's Mill, WV this weekend to attend a conference with some special friends!!!  I am soooo excited!! I always come home totally rejuvenated!!!!! I promise to post all about it next week!!!

FIVE:  And, last but not least, I will be attending the Steelers game on Sunday with my parents, sister, brother in law and niece!!! Go Steelers!!! I hope this game ends better than the last one!!!!

Who do you cheer for? Are you dressing up this Halloween? What are you dressing up as this Halloween? Your kids?

Happy weekend everyone!!!!!!!

Friday!!!! Whoopie!

Good morning everyone!!! I hope you all are having a great day!!

YEAH...IT IS THAT TIME!!! It's FRIDAY!!!

It has been a long and busy week at work and I have begun my countdown to vacation so that made it seem even longer!! 

Today I am getting right to it and joining in with ...

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

The Blended Blog

ONE:  I am obsessed with scratch off's!!! These babies are so fun!!! I allow myself $20 a month and if I win I get to keep going and if not, I quit for that month. I can totally see how people get addicted to gambling and the lottery!! I am such an addict anyway! LOL! UGH!

TWO: Another of my top favorite things in my baby Trouble.  or Trubs! He is three and such a sweetie! He is such a snuggler but also a big scardy cat. If anyone else is in my house he will not even peek out under the bed!! But he is the sweetest cat on the planet!!

THREE:  My sweet little girl Faith. or Faithy Waithy!  She is one and such a sweet, tiny little girl! She is so little to this day!!  She follows the older boys around constantly and is always snuggling with another cat. She does not like to be alone but she rarely snuggles with here sister, she always picks the boys!!

FOUR:  This is my sweetie Nermal!! Or Nermie! He is three and he sleeps with my every night! He twaps any of the other cats that try to sleep with us! LOL!  It is safe to say he is the dominant one of the bunch. He got really sick a little over a year ago and had to stay in the cat hospital for over 5 days and I would lay the room there with him and just hold him for hours. He is really a sweetie and we are TIGHT!! ILOL!

FIVE:  My sweet Grace! or Gracie! She is one and she is blood sisters with Faith but they are entirely different. Grace always challenges Nermal for domination, She is a pudgy little bully sometimes. It she wants petted, she will just shove the others out of the way and stick her body in there! Its really funny to watch!

Those are really my favorite things!!! I am so grateful I have the sweet babies above in my life to hang out with me and greet me as soon as I come home!!!  

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am planning another weekend home to start prepping for vacation so nothing exciting but I will be checking in to see what you are all up to!

Have a great Friday! Thanks for stopping by! Now I am off to go meet some new people in a few linkups!! Yippee!!

Have any pets yourself? Isn't it crazy how different all their personalities are? What is making you grateful today! Do you have exciting plans for the weekend?

Welcome to Friday!!!!

Today I am joining all the fun parties below...

The Peaceful Posse

Amanda at Meet At The Barre
Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

The Blended Blog

My five things are the five things that I will be doing this weekend ...

ONE: Paddle boarding! Since I purchased a used paddle board I am obsessed! I cannot wait to get up to my parents house to paddle! I am getting more and more comfortable each time I ride! And I think it is a great ab workout! We broke the used paddle that came with the board already so I am also excited to use the new paddle I just got on Amazon.

TWO: Pontoon Parade! Every year we enter the annual Lake Mohawk Pontoon Parade on 4th of July celebration weekend! The lake decided to celebrate the weekend after rather than before so we are in for an awesome weekend! The pontoon parade is Friday night so we will spend the day Friday decorating the boat and floating in the lake! The kids love to decorate the pontoon and dress up! This year we are trying a construction theme and it is looking like it is coming together perfectly! Last years is below...it was a tub and shower! LOL!

THREE: Floating on a raft any spare moments! I do not know what your weather is where you are but it is predicted to be another weekend of 90 plus degrees in Ohio and Pennsylvania so I plan to spend as much time as possible floating in the cool lake behind my parents house!!!

FOUR:  Spotting new skiers! All five of my little nieces and nephews (from 6 to 11) have learned to ski this year! It is so awesome to watch them learning and they love every second of it! I am the official spotter and either Mom or Dad drives. Their mother stays on shore as she is a nervous Nelly! LOL!

FIVE: Fireworks! If you read my last post, you saw I got to watch fireworks in my neighborhood while laying in bed! Very comfortable! LOL! The fireworks for Lake Mohawk are on Saturday night. I think my Aunt is also coming up to watch with us. I am sure it will be awesome! We usually float on the pontoon in the middle of the lake with a bunch of other residents! So FUN!

I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend regardless of whether its a holiday where you are or not! Love yinz!

Do you love fireworks or could do without? Any skiers out there? How about tubing or paddle boarding? I am looking for tips and tricks!?

Guess What? It's Finally Friday!

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is happy and healthy on this awesome FRIDAY!

I am joining in all the friday fun (Friday Favorites, Five on Friday, Oh Hey Friday) with the TOP five things I plan to do this weekend!

First, let me start off by saying they are not fun things to most people but I am SO looking forward to them! I have been dating someone for about a year and a half and that is over.I own a condo and I have spent most of my time at his house over the past year. We have done all kinds of projects on his house, his yard, his furniture and I have done nothing at my own house.  So i am way excited to have an entire weekend to MYSELF and my own house!

ONE:  I will begin with switching from winter clothes to spring and summer!! Yippee!!! No more boots for a LONG time! Flip flops here I come!

TWO:  I need to wash and vacuum my car - desperately! I am totally looking forward to this one! I keep my car very clean but right now it needs vacuumed inside really bad!

THREE: I am going to wash my windows and sliding glass doors. I have a condo and I just get new windows and doors and it will be so nice to wash them and have them be sparkling clean! Yea me!

FOUR:  Cleaning the fish tank! My poor fish have been begging for this! It's time I took care of the living things that depend on me and give them a little fresh water. I will drain about 1/4 and give them new, fresh water!!! They will be so happy!

FIVE:  Planting flowers!!! I am going to start planting! I know, I live in Pittsburgh and it's too early! I hear this every year - from EVERYONE - I just don't care! I am planting! My patio fun will begin! YIPPEE! I will drag everything in if it gets too cold...I do it every year! LOL!

For the bonus...I am binge watching Amazing Race, Survivor, Nashville, Grimm, Modern Family. Mom and Teen Mom 2 whenever possible! I have to catch up on ALL my favorite TV too!

Double bonus...I will be reading all my magazines as time allows too! I am so excited to get caught up with my life!

It's sad how much I did not do in my own life to make time to spend with the BF at HIS house. I am nuts...or...I was nuts!

Truly loving my life right now and truly grateful for EXACTLY where I am now! 

What does your life look like for the weekend? Are you happy with were you are right now?

I hope you all have a great weekend! XO

My Five!!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!! 

I am so so very excited to announce that I will be assisting (which means probably organizing 90% ha) of my BF's Thanksgiving Dinner for his family! Yeah me and yeah us! This will be his first year hosting dinner for his family at his house since his divorce (sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews and his children). I am over the top excited for this dinner! But, since he has been a bachelor for so long there are a lot of things we need to purchase in order to host a nice family dinner. He has mismatched dishes, plastic cups and ZERO tablecloths! I am going to join in with the Friday 5 link-ups to brainstorm what he needs to buy for this dinner! HA HA

1. Glasses!  We will be hosting 16 people (us included) and I think he has about 8 GLASS glasses and the rest are mismatched plastic.  We definitely need to find some nice glasses!

These look perfect!!!

2. Placemats!  Again, he has none and we are hosting a lot of people so I think it is only appropriate we get a place mat for everyone,,,right?

These are really nice!

3. Tablecloth! I think he has one tablecloth that could be a little Thanksgivingly (is that a word?? HA). The problem is that we will be having two tables of people so we definitely are going to need two matching tablecloths.  I love this one!!

4. Plates!  I think we will go with classy plastic dishes this year. I hate to have him buy dishes and have nowhere to store them all year so I think I am going to recommend to him that we do what my family does. We use the pretty plastic ones...high end of course - HA! (Update: I just bought these!!!)

5. Turkey and Stuffing Fixins: Last but definitely not least, we are supplying the turkey and stuffing and everyone else is bringing side dishes. We need to go make our frozen turkey purchase this weekend!  I love cooking turkey with the traditional sage stuffing my Mom makes! I am so excited for this dinner!
 

I made him a fall wreath last weekend for the front door already but I think I also need to pick up some decorations for around the house....see, way more than just five things but it has helped me to think about it a little!

What are all of you doing for Thanksgiving?

Cooking or eating out? With family or enjoying quiet alone time?

Traditional stuffing or does your family like the new-fangled recipes??

Join in on the link up fun with the ladies below!!!!

Oh Hey Friday with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife.

Friday Favorites with A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, and Grace and Love.

And 5 on Friday with A. Liz Adventrues, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness, and The Good Life.

Friday Five...Five on Friday...Friday Favorites

Hi everyone!!!!  I love all the Friday linkups! And I love Friday in general...ha! Who does not really, right?

Anywho...here are my five favorites for this week. I was in no way compensated for these opinions! These are mine and mine alone and every product was purchased with my own $$$.

1. This stuff from Essie is amazing! If you can find it, buy it! It was sold out in every store I went to so I finally bought it on Amazon. The link I lined to is available for Prime also if you are a member. It goes over any polish and makes it last FOREVER! It is so shiny and very chip-free and really is awesome stuff if you do your own nails!

2. I had to show you all this! I love my co-workers! I have so many awesome co-workers and I came into the office on Monday to find this adorable little girl on top of a huge plate of cookies all for me! Seriously, you gotta love her!!! What a way to make someones week, hugh? This adorable girl and the co-worker that got her for me are truly a favorite this week!

 3. This is a new daily favorite! It is ....ready? ...Metamucil!!!!! It is the sugar-free punch flavor and I love it! I am drinking a 12 ounce glass of water with 2 tsp of Metamucil every day before lunch and it is amazing! I am full way quicker and not hungry all afternoon! This is my new favorite product and I think it is helping me lose weight as I am not hungry and eating all day long anymore! Awesome and regular! HA

4. I love this necklace! I got it for a steal on a clearance rack at Cato Fashions. It was regular priced around $15 and I got it for 2 as the tassel was unraveled. I took it home for $2 and repaired it and now I get compliments every time I wear it! If you have never checked out Cato, you need too! I love this store and their jeans are awesome and fit perfectly! So reasonably priced too - you will be amazed at the prices for everything!

5. I got this lipstick from Lord & Berry in a Birchbox and it is awesome!!! It is a perfect lipstick and the perfect color for me - they sent me the color called Shut Up and it is perfect! It goes on creamy and smooth and shiny! I am going to order twelve more tubes!! Love this soooo much!!!!!!!

Well, thats my Friday 5!!! Hope you all have an amazing weekend! And I cannot wait to link up and read everyone elses favs!

Anyone else miss Summer?
Anyone else addicted to subscription boxes like me? If so, which ones? I NEED MORE! HA!

Happy Friday!

 

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