Friday Favorites

July 31, 2026

I absolutely cannot believe July 2026 is coming to an end. Time flies when you get old! Today is the last Friday of the month and I have some weekly favorites to share.

Last week I mentioned that I had finished our Book Club book (Cold Sassy Tree) and was looking for another book to start.

I picked one and finished it in 3 days…

Favorite # ONE

Mad Mabel

The story is about the life of Elsie [Mabel Waller] Fitzpatrick, an 81-year-old woman with a horribly troubled past. It is told in a dual timeline format , moving between past and present. One thing I liked about this story were the characters, especially Elsie Mabel and her best friend Daphne. From the moment I started, I found myself looking for quiet time to move on to the next chapter as I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I’ll give it 5 stars for that.

Goodreads book review

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This favorite is a stretch.

On Tuesday I had an appointment to get my teeth cleaned. You would think that I would work that in to my favorites somehow, but no. I HATE getting my teeth cleaned. It doesn’t feel good at all.

After that, LB and I went to ACE Hardware to walk through the garden center. Since I’ve planned to landscape the west side of my pool enclosure we purchased several plants

Favorite # TWO

LIRIOPE

I managed to get them all planted before the rain came on Thursday.

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LB and I used to visit the beaches in town at least once a week. We had stopped doing this in the past few years so, knowing how much he always enjoyed it, I suggested we go this week. We went to Little Talbot Island. It was hot and overcast and the biting flies were abundant. We only stayed for an hour. Needless to say, my next favorite is not the beach. It is this little guy who landed on LB’s hat…

Favorite # THREE

It looked like something was wrong with him so he just held on to LB for comfort while we were there.

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In last week’s favorites I mentioned the faux suede jacket I had purchased, but I didn’t mention that it was only part of an order…

Favorite # FOUR

Early Fall Haul

with some pretty sweet deals…

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Ozzy has a favorite this week to share…

Favorite # FIVE

Ozzy’s New Kitty Toy

Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats

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This is a public service announcement:

It is not recommended to go to the beach while the temperature is in the upper 90s!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

July 24, 2026

Another week has passed and I did not take the time to create a post about all the birthday cakes I have made. I’m still trying to remember out how it all started. I know that one of my first creations was Rory’s one year smash cake, but it seems like Stephanie was the person who started my cake baking “hobby”. I’ll figure it out eventually.

So, no cake post, but I did take the time to put together another Friday Favorites post.

Here goes…

Favorite # ONE

PROJECT HAIL MARY

The movie

I finished our book club pick on Sunday so I thought I would start another book of my own choosing. I’ve been thinking about reading Project Hail Mary, but recently saw that it has been made into a movie and is currently on Prime. So I watched it Tuesday night. Project Hail Mary is a science fiction story about a space mission to solve a problem that threatens to end life on earth. The issue involves a microscopic organism that is consuming the sun. Dr. Ryland Grace, [played by a very unkempt Ryan Gosling], travels into space to find a cure. Although I had doubts during the first half of the story, it turned out to be a feel good movie.

During Dr. Grace’s journey he meets “Rocky”

Rocky is totally cute and all the reason you need to watch this.

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Earlier this week I asked AI for ideas on landscaping the west side of my pool enclosure…

This is what AI suggested…

Favorite # TWO

The photo came with instructions and identified each plant. Aside from the pictured suggestion that I landscape in front of the screen door, I like it.

I’ll be working on this in the next week or so.

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Favorite # THREE

Jimothy

Clearly he had to be included.

He is all over social media. If you haven’t seen him yet, google “Jimothy the racoon” and he will walk across your screen.

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I’ve been eyeing a fall staple that is new to Old Navy and this week it went on sale…

Favorite # FOUR

Classic Faux-Suede Jacket

Originally it was $69.99. You can get it for $41.99. With additional perks, I got it for $35.00!

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Friday night is pizza night and we have moved up from the little pizzas that LB once loved to this…

Favorite # FIVE

This 12 inch supreme starts with this Aldi refrigerated pizza dough

LB highly recommends this!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

July 17, 2026

So much has happened in the last 2 months! We’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to put anything in this blog. Since it was May 1st that I published my last post, I figured I better publish something before wordpress shuts me down. Here are my latest Friday Favorites…

Because we celebrated her birthday this week, she will be my

Favorite # ONE

LYDIA

She is 11 years old and I can’t believe it.

The party theme this year was Star Wars…

Everyone came to celebrate the day and shower Lydia with birthday gifts!

Glammy was in charge of the cake…

I’ve been thinking about doing a blog post all about the cakes I’ve made.

Maybe next week.

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Favorite # TWO

I love these adorable little flowers. They are called Catharanthus roseus and look like a miniature periwinkle (both are of the genus vinca). The periwinkle is a perennial, which I appreciate, but sadly these little guys are not. They will last and grow beautifully until we have a freeze.

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Favorite # THREE

OZZY

is 9 months old. He has quickly grown to be a big kitty, although he still behaves very much like a kitten. In this picture he is resting after a major case of the zoomies. He is so worn out that he didn’t even object to me putting his mouse in his ear 🤪

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This month the Book Club is reading my

Favorite # FOUR

Cold Sassy Tree

I’m on chapter 42 and so far it has been a fun story.

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In honor of my paternal grandmother’s birthday, Mema Reid is my

Favorite # FIVE

Irma Nell Knox-Reid was born July 16, 1929. I published a post all about her here.

Happy Birthday in Heaven Mema!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog

Friday Favorites

May 1, 2026

Favorite # ONE

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

This is the most recent read that was chosen by the book club. It is a fictional story that “follows the journey of three characters brought together through grief and trauma. In Violet, Frank, and Harriet’s converging paths, Wood explores The Effects of Incarceration, The Healing Power of Books, and the importance of Forgiveness of Self and Others” (supersummary.com).

The story was captivating and I enjoyed following Violet’s journey, but the discussion and language used by the prisoners was enough to make a Southern Baptist squirm.

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Favorite # TWO

This beauty

from my garden

Lilium ‘Tiny Massive’ or Asiatic hybrid lily

I found it at Home Depot last summer and luckily the many freezes we had this past winter did not wipe it out.

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Favorite # THREE

OZZY

This baby is getting so BIG. He has a delightful personality and makes my heart happy. In this photo he is sucking on my orange blanket. I don’t know what it is that he enjoys about this, but it doesn’t seem to be hurting anything.

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Favorite # FOUR

Forever Friends

When this was posted in our family group chat, my comment was “this makes me happy and sad all in one”. Many others commented “me too”.

The Starlings spent some time with the Rigdons on their last full day in Florida. Although the tears were shed later, this photo shows how much these cousins enjoy each other and the great love they have for one another. I hope they will always remember.

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Favorite # FIVE

Eaglemania

at the Alhambra Theatre and Dining

LB and I are season ticket holders to Alhambra because it is our favorite type of date night. If there is music to be heard, I’m usually right on board! This Eagles tribute band did not disappoint.

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

June 6, 2025

It’s Friday and I’m at home!

This past week was an exciting week and I have a few favorites that I’ve selected to share…

Last Friday LB and I headed to Captiva Island Inn for a vacation to celebrate my birthday

Favorite #ONE

Captiva Island

We made it in time to have dinner at our favorite local Mexican restaurant before catching the sunset!

Another restaurant on Captiva Island is the Mucky Duck which has been closed since the devastation that came to the island during the 2022 – 2024 hurricanes.

Many places are still in desperate need of repair.

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Favorite #TWO

Mudbugs

Mudbugs is an adorably decorated Cajun restaurant that we happened upon while touring nearby Sanibel Island. We didn’t sample the crawfish, but LB was able to have his fill of oysters while I enjoyed blackened fish. Also while exploring Sanibel, LB and I found several cute shops.

Favorite #THREE

Beach Daisy

a lovely little shop where I found a lovely little summer sweater and pendant.

Someday I will post an OOTD pic wearing this! In the photo above, I’m sitting in bed surrounded by all of the birthday gifts LB presented to me on June 1st! Speaking of birthday gifts…

Favorite #FOUR

Birthday Gifts

This is what I was awakened to.

When I got home, I laid everything out for a more impressive photo…

I’m spoiled forever!

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As we do nearly every year, LB and I attended one of our favorite concerts on Thursday

Favorite #FIVE

Happy Together

This year’s performance included the Cowsills, the Vogues, Gary Puckett, Little Anthony, Jay & the Americans, and, of course, music by the Turtles.

Just for fun I created a YouTube playlist that I’ve included below

I hope you enjoy!

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog!

Friday Favorites

February 21, 2025

Friday Favorites have been Few and Far between (don’t you just love alliteration?). With that, I’m here to share a few recent faves…

Favorite # ONE

CAKES

I’ve been busy making cakes in 2025.

Mama’s Birthday Cake,

Mississippi Mud Cake requested by my girls,

German Chocolate cake for LB’s birthday,

Rory’s Chocolate Stitch cake.

Speaking of Rory…

Favorite # TWO

Rory!

Happy Birthday to my favorite little 7 year old!

You’ve come a long way baby!

~

Favorite # THREE

SHOES

Monday was a delightful day off work, so LB and I went shopping for a pair of shoes I had been eyeing. Sadly, they were not available at my local Target, but happily, I found these and liked them even more

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Favorite # FOUR

EGGS

When you can’t find organic eggs, they quickly become a favorite! This carton from Vital Farms was purchased from a store that we never visit… Publix in Avondale. $11. SMH.

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Favorite # FIVE

Only 20 more workdays until shutdown!

Along with a photo of my team celebrating Christmas, I mentioned in this post that “it may be the last one”. I didn’t elaborate, but I wasn’t talking about Christmas and I wasn’t talking about “this post” being the last one. I’ll now share that we were called into a MS TEAMS meeting on December 13th to hear the announcement that our company has chosen to close our office. We have all been impacted by a surplus. Once the date of separation takes place, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to share about what we as a group have endured 😇

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Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

December 13, 2024

It has been so long that I don’t know if I remember how to do this.

Hopefully its easier than riding a bike.

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We celebrated my middle child’s birthday on Monday evening.

Favorite # ONE

AMANDA

I’ve published several posts featuring Amanda. Some of my favorites are here and here.

All three of my children were born in the fall, so while the rest of the world is anticipating Thanksgiving, for my family, starting November 1^st the celebrating begins. November 1^st is Stephanie’s birthday. While she didn’t specifically request it, her birthday dinner was a fish fry.

It was EPIC.

Richard’s birthday is November 9^th. Amanda thought it would be a good idea to have a low country boil for Richard’s birthday dinner. Since he didn’t object, that is what we did.

It was also EPIC.

Amanda asked for an appetizer/Hors d’oeuvres “dinner”, which isn’t really a dinner, but very fun and filling.

She also asked for a slab pie in lieu of a birthday cake, and so…

Favorite # TWO

SLAB PIE

A slab pie is baked in a sheet pan and is designed to feed a crowd. For Amanda’s pie I used my pâte brisée recipe and canned pie filling: apple, blueberry, cherry, and mixed berry. The pie turned out pretty good. Either that or no one was brave enough to tell me the truth.

With Amanda’s birthday past, on Wednesday LB began setting up the Christmas trees. We have two and they are both special.