Friday Favorites, 12.6.2024.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for today's blog post. I hope you've had a good week! Mine has been good, and busy, which is what is really good for me right now. I have some favorite moments from this week that I thought I'd share today. 

I'll start with Sunday night, since I did something fun and different!

My sweet friend Wendy invited me to see Peter Pan with her at The Orpheum that night. It was so much fun! The play was wonderful, and we were both blown away by the talent. We ate dinner at our own houses before she picked me up; it is always fun getting dressed up to do something like this! Any and all plays are always a favorite thing to see, particularly when it's a Broadway play. 

Why are coffee mugs my favorite?! I treated myself to this really pretty one while I was out on Friday. 

My best friend bought me this Advent calendar to church on Sunday. Gilmore Girls is always a favorite! How well does she know me?!

I went to get my nails done on Monday while I was out running errands; my favorite is red glitter at Christmas! This particular dip powder color is called Dorothy's Slippers. 

I just love this adorable Italian restaurant that's newer in my town. I met my friend there for lunch, and apparently, we're each other's favorites since we didn't leave until three hours later. 

While I was in Colorado, my sisters, niece, and great nieces and I all painted some pottery. This little guy was mine, and I'm calling him a Chris-moose. Isn't he adorable? Crafty things like this are always fun and one of my favorite things to do. 

This is my newest favorite dress! I wore it to a women's event that happened at church this week, Tablescapes. It was dinner and a concert by an artist named Ginny Owens; it was a fun night, but I took nary a photo of my table. It wasn't my favorite, honestly, so you're not missing much. 

Look who came with me! 

Early morning reading by the light of the tree will always be my favorite. 

Remember I mentioned buying a new Bible? I bought one this week! I went with my favorite kind again, the She Reads Truth Bible. I love the wide margins, the translation, and the navy blue bonded leather. 

The Christmas cups that I bought for the bookstore at Christmas are my favorite! I love that there are several different patterns in each box. 

Christmastime at my church is always my favorite, and that day finally happened yesterday. I'm going back this morning to help with some finishing touches, and then I'll be off the rest of the day. I have plans both tonight and tomorrow night, which I'm excited about. 

What was a favorite of yours from this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all! 

Jenn 🖤

Share Your Shelf

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I love it when we talk about books here in the blog world, and I'm happy to say that this was a much better reading month that my previous months. It still wasn't anywhere near what it used to be, but I've made improvement with being able to focus; I'll take that! 

First up was this one for book club.

I love all of Pamela Kelley's book, but this one might be a new favorite! I will let you read about it yourself, but I loved the cozy feelings this book brought about. Pamela Kelley is known for talking about friendship, family, food, and wine in her books; they always take place in quaint little towns, and I love that I can picture this town, since it's one I've been to before. I highly recommend this one!

Next up was this one by Josie Silver. 

I'm not sure how I missed this one that released last year, but it was worth the wait. I loved the references to New York City, and the ins and outs of the characters in the book. This author is always a favorite! 

This is a book that the staff is reading together at church, and I read it while I worked last Wednesday. It was really good, and helpful for the times when prayer feels like a struggle. 

What have you read lately? I can't wait to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all! 

Jenn 🖤

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Hodgepodge

 

Happy bonus blog post day, friends! I'm here linking up with Joyce today for her weekly hodgepodge of questions this week. I'll jump right in!

1. What's the best $5 gift to give someone? I think a gift card is the best inexpensive gift, and that's the perfect amount for a small cup of coffee while you're out and about or a milkshake for your favorite fast food place. These are things I get pretty regularly from my sons, and I always love that kind of a gift. I know people say that gift cards are impersonal, but I think they're a great way to get someone to treat herself. 

2. What's your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? I have been on a reading kick, so I'll say that for now. But you know I also love to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie during this time of year, so either sound wonderful. Before I left for an event at church last night, I sat and read my book. 

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other dishes? I love gingerbread cookies, but I rarely eat them or buy one. I tried to do gingerbread houses with my boys once when they were little, and though it was fun, it wasn't something we ever did again. The only thing I can think of that has ginger in it is the ginger sauce that I love at my favorite Japanese restaurant. 

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day...will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans--joggers--leggings--yoga pants...which one do you wear most often? Jeans are not my favorite pants, believe it or not, so I never have a hard time parting with a pair. That being said, there are certain brands I've liked more than others over the years, but my favorites are a pull-on pair by Westbound or the more recent wide legged jeans that I bought from Halara. I definitely wear leggings the most out of these choices! 

5. As we head into this holiday season, what's your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? I would say that my biggest priority right now and my immediate future is to keep choosing the high road. I'm being quiet in my life circumstances, and I'm just trying to keep on doing what I'm doing. There are so many things that help me with this: friends, the Bible, prayer, and the reminder of brighter days that are just around the corner. 

I wrote another post under this one, this month's Currently link; I mention that so that you don't miss it since I posted it first. Thanks for being here today, friends! Love to all. 

Jenn 🖤

Currently: December 2024

 

Happy Wednesday, friends, and happy bonus blog post day! I'm so glad you're here for this month's Currently link party. I will be bringing this post back in 2025, and will keep it on the first Wednesday of every month. I hope you make plans to keep joining me next year! Today we're talking about things we're currently loving, looking forward to, buying, hoping, and baking. In January we'll talk about what we're currently loving, doing to stay warm, resolving, organizing, and wearing. I'll jump in with today's post!

Loving

One thing I'm currently loving the most is my morning routine; actually, I think I just love routines in general, and the twinkling lights just add an extra touch of magic, right? Also, in case you don't know this about me, I keep twinkling lights out in my home all year long for that very reason. I always have lights strung on my mantle, and in several bedrooms. All my boys are like this and love it for the same reason! 

I almost always have a candle lit and music playing through the Roku device on the tv hanging in the living room. 

I have been loving the weather! It feels like winter has arrived, and I couldn't be happier. I think that cold weather makes this time of year feel more festive! I've been wearing my old favorite red coat with a faux fur-lined hood, and I've been wearing all the cozy sweaters and sweatshirts that I have that are also festive. 

Looking forward to

I am really looking forward to the annual Christmas parade Friday night! I'm also looking forward to keeping Graham's baby dogs again both this weekend and the next. I realize that seems strange to some of you, but I really do love his dogs and I miss them! This weekend he's going to Nashville for one night, and the next weekend he's in a wedding. Don't think for a second that I won't take the opportunity to take them to look at Christmas lights again! 

I will always be so glad that my sister and I went to the parade with Dad last year. He was so adamant about going, even though it was a long day for him and it was cold. It was totally worth it to have that experience with him one more time. I think in my heart I knew that it would be his last Christmas. It's funny how you get a sense of things like that, you know? 

 

Buying

I am thrilled to be able to say that I am done buying Christmas presents! All I've been buying so far this week is groceries. I may share a Costco post next week, so stay tuned.

Ignore my dirty floor, but here's the proof! Not all of the presents are here yet, and there are two or three in a big box in my kitchen that got here later in the weekend that weren't wrapped yet when I took this picture. I'm so proud of myself! 

Hoping

I am hoping for a lot of things, honestly: that I'm able to enjoy the beautiful season that we're in, that I don't dread the day of Christmas too much, that my sons continue to do well in the life circumstances we've all been dealt, that they continue to be surrounded by good friends who love and care for them, and that they're able to have a good Christmas in spite of it being so different. Different doesn't equal bad/sad! I told them that this weekend when we were all together. I anticipate it being a good Christmas day. Attitude and outlook is everything, right? 

Baking

We have a festive book club night coming up next week, and I will be baking a Bundt cake to take with me. I'm excited about doing something a little different for this month's book club! 

Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!  

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December things

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I thought I'd talk about a few things I want to remember this Christmas season. I'm asking you to chime in at the end!

I don't want to take for granted this time of year, what it means and the reason why we celebrate. It's easy to become overwhelmed with life, particularly during this season. I want to remember that time spent with the Lord is of the utmost importance to start my days in the right way. I also want to spend time in prayer praying for those that I know of who are lost. 

I plan on spending some nights driving around looking at Christmas lights and will find people to go with me. Well, people or dogs. I love taking dogs to see lights, because they love them and can see them really well when the windows are rolled down a bit. 

I hope I can continue with my Christmas book reading streak, but it's not looking very promising. 

I am already making new memories this year, and I'm loving that! This will continue next weekend with the plans I already have in place. I'm excited for this!

I've already watched The Holiday and The Family Stone, but I'll probably rewatch one or both. I think those are my two favorite, alone with White Christmas being at the top. 

I've already been singing loudly for all to hear! I play Christmas music at work all week, and have already been caught doing this. 

Mission accomplished with the festive clothing! 

I'm trying to get into the habit of writing more, and also saying yes to as much as possible. I have too much free time on my hands!

And lastly, I want to remember to put on love each and everyday. This is a crazy busy time of year in stores nationwide; I want to remember to be patient, loving, and kind to the dear people who I'll come across working long hours this holiday season. 

What would you add to this list? I'd love to hear! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 🎄

Linking up with:

weekending

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a good weekend! I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's post. Did you do anything fun this weekend? Here's a little peak of a few things I did. 

I woke up and enjoyed a leisurely morning on Friday. I had coffee, I watched a movie, and piddled around the house doing laundry and light cleaning. My friend Abbey dropped off something at my house, and when I grabbed it off my porch, I found some drawings her precious kids gave to me. I love those little people so very much! 

I hadn't planned on doing any Black Friday shopping on this day, but I needed to get up and get out of my house. I just went to one store, but I was in there for a couple of hours. We have this great local bookstore called Novel that I love visiting. I really prefer going there alone so that I can wander and just take my time; not only is it a bookstore, it's a great place to buy gifts. 

And because it was a Friday and the day we would normally celebrate Thanksgiving with Dad, I decided to go visit his grave. I've never been a grave visitor, honestly, but it's a peaceful place to go and just walk around. I like going there, because I feel close to Dad. That sounds weird, but he really loved going there when he was alive; that's why I feel close to him there. I often find that I can have a really good cry there, and I usually need it on the days I stop by there. I love where his grave is; I park under pine trees, which reminds me of the home I grew up in, because his driveway was lined with the same kind of tree. There's a little bridge I have to cross to get to his grave, and it's just quiet and peaceful. 

I don't have pictures of this one, but my best friend's son and wife invited me to their family Thanksgiving dinner that Friday night. I wasn't going to go, honestly, but they really weren't willing to take no for an answer. I wanted to stay home so bad, but I committed to going so that I wouldn't talk myself out of it; tell me I'm not the only one does things like that! So after being at home after my day out, I was here for about thirty minutes, then I changed and left again and headed to their house. And you know what? I am so glad I did this! I'll share more about this tomorrow, so come back for the full story...but just know that when I left there, I drove home thanking God the entire time, because they had invited me into their lives that particular night. 

I watched this movie Saturday morning! It was so cute, but I love those Debbie Macomber movies.

Check out my latest phone screensaver from Pinterest!

I had one more gift to buy, so I got out again on Saturday with my sister for some Shop Small Saturday Christmas shopping! We went to a local grocery store called Fresh Market, then we had chips and dips for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and ended our time on the square. I finished my shopping, friends, and I got everything that has come in so far wrapped and under the tree! I couldn't be more proud of myself. 

And then on a whim, Marilyn came over to hang out with me for a while. She watched me eat dinner (🤣), and Chloe fell in love. It was a fun night, and I was grateful for the distraction of her company while my sons celebrated Thanksgiving with their dad. I think if I'd been alone, I would have gone crazy wondering how it was going. As it turned out, I barely thought about what they were doing.

Church was yesterday morning, and then I did something really fun again last night, but I'll talk about that on Friday. How was your weekend? I'd love to hear from you! Don't forget about Wednesday being our day for the Currently link party! Our prompts for December are loving, looking forward to, buying, hoping, and baking. I hope to see you here again each day this week! Thanks for being here and being my cheerleaders. I'm so grateful for all of you! Love to all. 

Jenn 🖤 

Share 4 Somethings: November 2024

 

Happy Saturday, friends! Thanks for being here to link up with me for today's Share 4 Somethings; make sure to visit some other bloggers who link and leave them some comment love. I'll jump in!

Loved and/or Disliked

This month I loved having my house decorated for Christmas. Most of you remember that I was in Dallas from October 31-November 5th; by the 8th it was all lit up for the holidays! I will always love doing this early, and nobody will ever tell me not to do that again. Read that again if you didn't catch it the first time. 

It's my favorite time of year! I disliked some of the things that I faced this month, but it's just par for the course in a divorce, unfortunately. I don't ever recommend going through one, by the way! They're terrible and I don't enjoy feeling like a mean person, but it feels like that I'm being that way. It's against my nature, and I will be very jaded when it's all over and done with. 

Accomplished

I accomplished my goal of being done with Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving! I'm amazed by this, and it was a lofty thing to attain to, but I did it and I couldn't be happier. Now onto the wrapping! 

Improved upon and/or Needs Improvement

This month I improved upon my attitude. Pertaining to my divorce, I blocked him from my social media accounts, and I blocked his girlfriend, because they were both watching me on those platforms. (My profile is public because of my blog.) In doing that, I also stopped stalking them, and I feel a million times better now that I did that. Another benefit of that is that it's helping me walk more toward the road to forgiveness, not that he will ever know this. I'm trying to do that for myself, because I don't like feeling like I'm in turmoil all the time. I did have one big thing that happened on Thanksgiving night that set me back a few steps, but I'm working through it all, or at least trying to do that. 

I'm sure a lot of things still need improvement after this month, but it's late and I can't think of anything off the top of my head. I guess I will add that my reading habit needs improvement. It does seem a bit better, so maybe that's progress? Hopefully I'll be able to focus more than the last few months, and I can get back to reading regularly! 

Noticed

Have you noticed that almost everyone decorates early for Christmas these days? I'm not complaining, trust me, because I'm in that category! I've been seeing a lot of homes with outside lights in our neighborhood, and I love the festivity that it adds to this time of year. I love that our town square does its tree lighting the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week now! I think it's smart, because people have family in town from all over, and it's a nice thing for them to be able to do together while they're in town. 

Thanks for being here today, friends! I am excited to read all of your posts. I'll see you back here on Monday! Love to all. 

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