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Good morning friends! How are you? Can I be honest? I am exhausted, the last two weeks have been a roller coaster; on the day we ratified our contract to sell our house, my husbands step-daughter(previous marriage) passed away. This week we found a house to buy so we jumped in the car for a long road trip back and forth the same day to see it and it was all wrong for us(real-estate photos are very deceiving). The up side we were able to see my brother and nephew who suffered the TBI a few weeks ago, then saw another house and made an offer. This morning we received bad news about that house and now were are back to square one. It anyone knows anyone or is selling a house in Pinehurst, N.C please let me know.
Anyway, enough about me, this Sunday is Mother’s Day! It is a day set aside to celebrate all that is wonderful and special about moms so do not forget to make the day extra special. You could make a gift for your mom, I shared a few ideas Monday for 5 Easy homemade Mother’s Day gifts just in case you need a few ideas. Or you could send her to the spa or you could just let her have a day “off” and to herself. Whatever you do for or give to your mom make her feel special.
In the meantime, get yourself a coffee, tea or chocolate and settle in for all of my favorites from this week.
Food
I’ve heard of white chicken chili but never White Chicken Lasagna, this recipe looks so good, I think it would be an easy and delicious dinner to make for mom this week.
This strawberry quinoa salad is scrumptious! I Made it yesterday and it is easy, delicious and perfect for your upcoming brunch, lunch or dinner.
If you need a quick and easy “dessert” or breakfast treat that is healthy and delicious you could make a few Almond Milk Panna Cotta.
This Summer Berry Tart with a Sugar Cookie Crust is another easy dessert for your weekend festivities. I make this frequently and it is a favorite.
Just in case you want to make a refreshing cocktail this weekend, here is a recipe for a Paloma.
Articles
The Professional Women Who Are Leaning Out
The Grim Secret of Nordic Happiness
There are hard limits to what your brain can manage in a day. Ignore them at your peril.
5 Mistakes We Make When We’re Overwhelmed
Lumber Mania Is Sweeping North America
Here’s how to find out if your workplace’s return-to-office plans are actually safe.
A Crisis of Undiagnosed Cancers Is Emerging in the Pandemic’s Second Year
They Told Their Therapists Everything. Hackers Leaked It All
The Complicated Reality of Thrift Store ‘Gentrification’
How subscriptions took over our lives.
Books
I think books are the perfect gift for any occasion and thought I would share a few that I think are perfect for mom’s or just for yourself.
Extreme Brownies is one of my all time favorite books, I have made about 30 of the 50 recipes in this book and every one is scrumptious! If you are a brownie lover or know someone that is this book is a must for their collection. I ordered this book, Even Better Brownies: 50 Standout Bar Recipes for Every Occasion, this week so that I can compare the brownies and the recipes.
You could order Hydrangeas
or Peonies
or Dahlias or order all three for a book “bouquet.”
Mark D. Sikes is an amazing designer and this book, More Beautiful is a wonderful coffee table book that you will enjoy for years.
Finds
If you like to entertain outside and are afraid of your serving pieces getting damaged, this melamine platter is a great addition to your serving pieces. I have this platter and it is great for salads, desserts, meats, and more. It looks like a vintage piece and you cannot even tell that it is plastic.
I mentioned last week that I ordered a few dresses from H & M, including this one and I wanted to report back. I ordered the small because the X-small was out. It is a comfy, well made dress and fits a little big because it is supposed too, that said, the small was too big and the arms felt like wings. If I could get it in X-small I think I would like it better. I also ordered a smocked flower dress from them and I love the dress and the beautiful colorful flowers but if you are large on top there is really no support and I find that it makes you look even larger, or at least it did me.
That is it for this week my friends, I hope that you will share your favorite podcasts, books, recipes, articles and more with us, simply leave a comment or a link in your comments so that we can find it. Have a safe and wonderful weekend and a beautiful Mother’s Day.
Friday Favorites No.481
Friday Favorites No. 480
Target Sandals My 3 Favorites for Summer
Friday Favorites from Love & Olive Oil, Butter Your Biscuit, Once Upon a Chocolate and More
It definitely sounds like a stressful week.
Oh how life stacks sometimes. Losing a child, regardless of the child’s age, is such a sad and hard thing. As a blended Mom I know it is not only your spouse’s loss, but yours as well, for we invest in our families. Not knowing where home is can be overwhelming..this year has helped me lose the grip I had on home being a place, but being a state of mind. It’s so different than I was raised, and I do so love familiarity, but most of all I love resetting the boundaries of what restores my peace and knowing that I am home where ever I love, I am , and I am loved keeps it easier to focus peace for me. Hugs to you my friend. I am praying with you, for you, and for the stressors to end.
Oh dear, I’m sorry things have not been working out for you. Your family happenings are so sad, my thoughts are with you all. So you really are moving south – and you passed by our area on the way to Pinehurst! It’s lovely there but won’t you miss being close to the ocean? Hoping you will find the home you want – I’ll let you know if I hear of anything. How much time will you have before moving? I recall the reason for your move though – you are kind and thoughtful people for sure X
The flower books look so beautiful – I want them all and have added to my Wish List. My granddaughter loves peonies so I may have to buy that one for her coffee table! My own peonies – just one plant with about six buds this year, is readying for the ‘grand display’ as the ants are crawling around the tightly packed petals which of course is a natural happening in the peony plant world!
Raining here today and really cool – but oh so beautiful looking out into the green abysss of the garden. Birds loud and busy, chipmunk running back and forth through a hosta patch, and the hydrangeas opening all around. Mother’s Day will be beautiful. Rest up dear Elizabeth and may things get better soon.
Mary X
I am so sorry that you lost your step-daughter. What a sad thing for your family to have to endure.
So sorry to hear about your step-daughter. Prayers for your family. Thanks for sharing all these finds. I have the Mark Sikes book and love it!
Shelley
Thank you Shelly.
A spa day would be perfect for Mother’s Day! Have a wonderful weekend
I didn’t realize the extent of your loss. I’m so sorry to hear this news. I hope you have a peaceful weekend. Take care of you my friend!
Thank you Lynn.
You always amaze me in the most interesting finds! Praying for that right house and for your weekend, friend.
Thank you Leslie!
Sorry to hear about the housing dilemma and your stepdaughter. How awful.
Brenda
Thank you Brenda. Have a wonderful day.
Hi Elizabeth,
I just wanted you to know I enjoy your blog so much. You do an outstanding joy in your presentation, everything
always looks so elegant, feminine and welcoming.
Oh my goodness what a difficult week you have been through. I am so deeply sorry to hear your husbands step
daughter from a previous marriage passed away. How horrible, coupled along with the on going saga of the home search. This is not easy, it’s all very taxing on so many levels.
I love the books that you posted. Flowers bring so much joy and always lighten my spirits, and Peonies are just
an amazing flower. My husband is a Master Gardener and I am the fortunate recipient of his glorious Roses. We live in the Phoenix, Arizona area, so I believe today was the last day of cut Roses. The sails will now go up to help
them survive the intense harsh summer heat that has already started up.
Sending you a virtual hug for a relaxing, restful weekend. I will add you to my Guardian Angel Prayers that you find a home that you and your hubby like.
Happy Mother’s Day!
I’m so sorry to hear about the step daughters passing. Hugs to you and your husband.
So many wonderful gift ideas.
Happy Saturday.
Thank you Renae, I appreciate your kindness. Have a wonderful day.
So sorry to hear your sad news. Loss is so difficult. And the struggles of moving on top of that must be so hard. Big Hugs 🙂
Elizabeth – I’m so very sorry to hear this about. Cannot imagine.
I pray you find the house that’s right for you. Pinehurst is a LOVELY location.
XO
I am so sorry for your loss. Life seems to dump so much on us at times. It took us four long years to find the perfect place, which was the exact opposite of what the mr wanted (to build), but through it all I knew the right place at the right time would manifest. Your perfect home is in the works, hang in there!
I certainly hope that you have a much better week ahead and that you find the home that you are looking for!
I appreciate all that you share and look forward to reading MORE BEAUTIFUL:)