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!!!!

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?

 

Five Fall Favs and New Project

Today I am going to share with you the 5 things I love in the fall!

These are my CANNOT live with outs....

In the Fall I LOVE candles!!! As most of you know, I have cats, four to be exact and fire does not go well with nebby cats and tails - LOL! But seriously!! The only time of the year that I enjoy a candle is in the Fall when it is closely monitored. Other than Fall, you will never see a candle lit in my home.

Second thing I HAVE to have in the Fall is these babies!!! They are Caramel Apple Pops and they are soooo yummy!! Each one is only 50 calories and lasts forever!! Great when you need a low calorie sweet treat! If you like caramel apples and you have not tried these...YOU ARE WELCOME! HA!

Third thing is this for dinner!! I am not a cook but I love soups in the Fall and Winter! Trader Joes has some really good ones and don't forget the Cornbread crisps-they are to die for!!! I float them in my bowl...soooo delicious!

I have a major issue in the Fall and Winter with dry feet and heels. I rarely get pedicures (no one sees your feet in November right?) so my feet start to get really dry and cracked! I found this stuff at the beach last year and I am now obsessed. It is Pure Factory Essential Foot Repair...You can get it online at Amazon!! It works great! I rub it in with the stick and them put on socks...problem solved! t smells amazing also- they have a bunch of different scents but I love lavender vanilla!

And lastly, Can you tell I love this tea?? I stock pile it!! It is the greatest treat at night if you like cinnamon candies!! It tasted just like you are eating a cinnamon hard candy! YUMMY with no calories!

That is it for my Fall favorites but I wanted to show you guys what my new project is going to be!

I am sooo excited about it and I cannot wait to start! Remember when I told you I was shocked by the cost of new carpet? Well, I am undertaking a large project instead.

I am ripping up all the nasty old carper in my condo and replacing it with Pergo!!  I am using the same brand and color my neighbor picked for hers because I LOVE how hers turned out. 

This is how it looked when she had hers finished! The brand in Pergo and the color is Coastal.

 

Do you like it?!?!

Do you love it?? I already ordered everything I need online and it will be delivered over the next week so I can get started soon! This will be the majority of my posts once I start - LOL!!!


I hope I did not bite off more than I can handle...literally! I have watched all the videos for install and all I need to do is find either a jigsaw or a table saw. I will be checking with my friend Mark since he is so close by but if he does not have one then I will borrow my fathers.

I hope you all have a great weekend!! 

Have any of you tried to install Pergo floors yourself? tips please? What was your largest home project you have tried to tackle?

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?

Friday!!!!!!

This weekend I get to stay at home...in Pittsburgh...yippee!!!

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

  I get it...my family is very close and we try to get together often. Also, my parents live on a lake so where else would we want to be in the summer on the weekends?!?! I do not mind traveling every weekend. Since I am the sibling without a husband or kids; I usually travel to them and not the other way around. The only exception to this is Pittsburgh's Great Race weekend and then they all come to me!!! Yippee!!  But it is going to be SO NICE to stay home this weekend!!! My sister gave my parents and myself tickets to the pre-season home games for the Steelers!! You can bet your bottom dollar I will be there with bells on!

So...lets get into the 5 things I plan to do this weekend!!!!

ONE:  We are having a glow party at barre class! I am so excited! We are supposed to wear bright colors and white so I think my outfit will be perfect!! I will definitely post about it!!

TWO:  Make sure I get to my home group Friday night! This is the AA meeting that I try to make every week. Pretty much everyone there knows me and if I stop coming around (which is usually not a good sign in recovery) hopefully people would call me and question my absence...that's pretty much how it works!! 

THREE:  Steelers game on Saturday!!! Can not wait!! Time with my parents and the Steelers fans!!! Only regret is that my sister can not make it with us!!

FOUR:  Spend time with my friend as he recovers from a stroke. If you did not see this post you can read about it HERE.  Hopefully we can spend Sunday together and just enjoy each others company. Also, another thanks to everyone that shared their ideas with me! I printed out a lot of worksheets for him to practice math and writing! I appreciate all your prayers and encouragement! HUGS!

FIVE:  Chill on the couch and snuggle my kittens as much as possible!!!! I need chill time so badly...Just to veg out and watch TV!!!

So I have a few fun things for the weekend but mostly hope to relax and enjoy time at home in Pittsburgh for the weekend! I promise lots of pictures and posts if anything turns out to be interesting! 

Anything exciting planned for your weekend? Anyone else a homebody? What do you watch when you want to mindlessly chill?

TGIF!! Whoopie!

Welcome to Friday! Yippee!!!

The first week back after vacation is so brutal! Hopefully, next week vacation brain will be gone! Wow-it has been a rough one!

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

Simply Sweet Home

High Five for Friday
5 on Friday

The Blended Blog

Well...let me get right to it!!!

ONE:  It is football season!! I know there are a lot of opinions and frustrations about the NFL but I love my Steelers and I am obsessed with football! I love the game and the energy and everything about it!! My sister has season tickets and also a friend of mine so hopefully I will get to go to a few games this year!!! I love everything about football! Go Steelers!

TWO:  I am in love wit this purse/wristlet! My sister ought this for me at the beach. I babysat the kids one night and next thing you know I have anew purse. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews so this was definitely NOT necessary. I think she heard me say I liked it when we saw it in the store so she found a reason to buy it for me. Soooo super cute!! Such a sweet sister!!! I have a great family!!!

THREE: Yes please! I love these chips!!! I had them when I was traveling in First Class on Delta but could not find them in any stores to buy now that I am no longer traveling. The other day I was browsing in TJ Maxx and found them in the food section??!!! What?!?!? It was a major score!! I may have bought the last 14 bags they had!! LOL!!! I am serious - I filled my cart and bought all they had left there!  They are so good when you want something sweet!

FOUR:  It is a perfect time of year for these babies! I have been living on cherries and they are so cheap right now!!! Aldi's has the best prices anywhere; not just on cherries but on everything!!!! This is not a paid advertisement...it is just the truth!! I hope the enjoy at least one more week of delish cherries!

FIVE:  I will leave you with a photo of my fury kids!!! This is the only time they are all together in one location - catnip time!!!  They love their catnip and all chill together and eat and lay in it! HA HA!

Happy Friday y'all!!! I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!!!


 

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

Friday Whoopie!

Hi everyone! TGIF!!! As my Grandma Wells used to say...WHOOPIE WHOOPIE!

I am so happy it is time for 5 on Friday, Oh Hey Friday and Friday Favorites! Friday I have waited ALL week for you!

I LOVE FRIDAY!!! You are my favorite day of the week!

And here are five things I am loving today!!!

1. I will be getting to see my awesome older sister two weekends in a row!! I am off to Harrisburg to visit after work - this day cannot end soon enough!!! Here is a picture from Florida a few weeks ago of us (she is on the right and I am on the left).

 2. The reason for my visit with my sister is that we are running the Hershey 10K tomorrow.Yes, you heard that right...I am excited! It is a very hilly course and will be a very slow time for my finish but I love running through Hershey Park when the rides are not running.  I also love seeing all the characters!! Hopefully I can find the Hershey Kiss Guy and the Hershey Bar Guy! Below is a cute picture from the race a few years ago.

3. Second only to the race...I am very excited to stop into this amazing place!!! There is nothing better than Chocolate World!!!!! YUMMO!!!! Chocolate everywhere!!!! If you have never been there, it is WORTH a trip! The amusement park is huge too!

4. I have been obsessed with Pure Barre lately! I just joined for the year and am so excited! I love Pure Barre and Platform classes. They are an amazing low impact and serious workout! We just finished March Madness which was a challenge to attend 20 classes in 31 days (even with being on vacation in Florida 10 days, I did it!) I guess that means I love it, right? Picture below is from Pure Barre website and YES, I look exactly that elegant when I attend class! NOT!  I am the one falling and tipping over in class! My poor studio is probably embarrassed by me in my old, ripped t-shirts but it is what I am comfortable in.  LOL!

5. And along the Pure Barre lines, my niece turned me onto this company that makes socks and clothes especially for Pure Barre and the socks are adorable! It is called ShopBarreSocks.  I just got a purple pair that say "What the tuck" (we tuck A LOT in barre class) and a grey pair that say "Down an inch on one and Up an inch on the other (we do that A LOT in barre class too!).

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!!!

What is your favorite chocolate?!?! Do you like Hersheys? 

What is your next race? What exercise is your current favorite?

I will recap the race next week! Take care!