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Good morning friends. Happy Friday and happy birthday to me today is my 55 birthday. Traditionally here on the blog I share a few life lessons, in the past I have shared 53 Lessons Learned in 53 Years, 15 Lessons I Learned From My Dog as well as several others, today I wanted to keep it simple and share just 5 lessons I have learned not only from my 55 years .
5 Lessons Learned in 55 Years
1. Kindness is the Foundation of a Good Life
“The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.” ~David W. Orr
Kindness is being generous and considerate, helpful, and giving not only to others but to yourself as well. The act of giving kindness is simple, free, positive and healthy. Being kind costs nothing and yet the benefits to our heart and health are immeasurable. Kindness makes us happier, it boosts your spirit and your mind and it is contagious. Think of how good you feel when someone is kind to you and then imagine how much better the world would be if we all felt like that.
2. Stop Putting Things off, Do It Now
If there’s something you really want to do, do whatever you have to do to make it happen. Don’t wait. You never know what tomorrow will bring. One day you happily enjoying a carefree life and the next you are on lockdown for almost 2 years. A year from now, five years from now it might not be possible to do something you had hoped to do because of your health, family obligations, finances or something else. If you really want to do it, don’t wait!
3. Material Is Immaterial
Things only have the value we give to them or the importance we place on them. You don’t need or have to have the latest bag, outfit or whatever else the world tells you that you need to have. You realize “keeping up with the Joneses” is exhausting and expensive and that your worth is not defined by the car that you drive, the size of your your house or how much stuff you have. Create memories, they are the things you will remember and savor.
4. Be Open to New Things
Many of us are afraid to move outside our comfort zones(ME), which often keep us from experiencing many things in life and later we could come to regret it, an adventure not taken, a concert mussed, a trip with friends. Life is meant to be lived, live it. Do new things, try new experiences , visit new places, they’re how memories are made.

Health is everything
5. Make Health A Priority
It should be obvious by now that without good health, nothing else is possible. We can’t travel, we can’t work, we can’t take care of family or pets. Focus on your health, make the time for regular check-ups and wellness appointments, go for your annual screenings, exercise your body and your mind.
Note: It goes without saying that family and friends the most important thing in life and should always be a priority, if we haven’t learned that after the last two years we never will.
Ok, back to my regularly scheduled post.
Friday Favorites: Food, Books, Interesting Articles, Finds and More
Food
Fall and winter activities and holidays are going to keep us busy so this easy fall sheet pan dinner is an excellent choice to add to your weekly rotation.
I made Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans this week and it was scrumptious. Full disclosure, I used store-bought ravioli.
I have been seeing stuffed pumpkins all over the internet and many people are using Dorie Greenspans‘ recipe but I think I am going to try this one instead.
Are you have guests for Thanksgiving or Christmas? I am and I cannot wait to make Brown Butter Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Brioche Buns. I think they are perfect for brunch. Or you could try these morning buns.

Spiced Cranberry Punch From Half Baked Harvest
I love cranberries, in fact every year I make my own cranberry liquor to give as gifts for the holidays. This year I am going to mix up the holiday cocktails by adding this Spiced Cranberry Punch to the rotation as well.
This cranberry whiskey cocktail looks good too.
Home Decor
I love this tables cape from Miss Mustard Seed. She used my favorite blue and white Gap dishes from Walmart.
Get your guest room(s) ready with these tips from Mary Ann at Classic Casual Home.
Interesting Articles & Entertainment
If you like period dramas check out 15 period dramas to stream now.
Have you ever heard of the Arlington Ladies? I had not and found this post to be very interesting.
How Romance “Wrecked” Traditional Marriage
Stressing Out About a Tough Decision? Make it Easy with the 5-Minute “Ladder Rule”
It looks like we are all in the same boat when it comes to travel, Amid Unprecedented Demand, Delays and Downgrades Are Now Private Aviation’s New Normal.
The fight between Italy and Croatia over the name Prosecco gets ready to pop.
Here’s why the smell of pumpkin spice moves us, according to science.
For $84,000, An Artist Returned Two Blank Canvasses Titled ‘Take The Money And Run’
The CIA Is Trying to Recruit Gen Z—and Doesn’t Care If They’re All Over Social Media.
3 Things No One Ever Told You About Making Friends in Adulthood.
Make Learning a Part of Your Daily Routine.
How To Maintain a Healthy Brain.
So interesting, The Enormous Hole That Whaling Left Behind. The mass slaughter of whales destroyed far more than the creatures themselves.
Books

Go Tells the Bees I am Gone Diana Gabaldon
Outlander fans, have you pre-ordered Go Tell the Bees I am Gone?
Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, and it took them twenty years to find each other again. Now the American Revolution threatens to do the same.
It is 1779 and Claire and Jamie are at last reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. Having the family together is a dream the Frasers had thought impossible.

A Day Like This
What if everything you’ve ever loved, ever known, ever believed to be true…just disappeared?
Annie Beyers has everything—a beautiful house, a loving husband, and an adorable daughter. It’s a day like any other when she takes Hannah to the pediatrician…until she wakes hours later from a car accident. When she asks for her daughter, confused doctors tell Annie that Hannah never existed. In fact, nothing after waking from the crash is the same as Annie remembers. Five happy years of her life apparently never happened.
I pre-ordered These Precious Days, I cannot wait to receive my copy.
From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of the upcoming The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

Treasures of the Mexican Table
Pati Jinich is the host of the long running PBS series Pati’s Mexican table, her new book Treasures of the Mexican Table comes out this week. I ordered this as a gift for my husband, he is a big fan of Pati’s and makes her recipes all the time .
You can see all of the books I have featured on the blog here.
Christmas Books for Kids
Christmas Fever(Free with Kindle Unlimited)
In a cold and snowy morning in the tiny town of Winterville, little helpers and their families are making preparations for Christmas. You will learn from this book a magical atmosphere and Christmas traditions. Playing games, baking cookies, decorating Christmas Tree and so much more!
Begin a new Advent family tradition with this beautiful celebration of the season! Fill your hearts with joy as you read and reflect on this most special of seasons in our faith.
Shop the books
Finds
Have you been shopping for Christmas decor? Did you find anything that you loved? Several friends have purchased this angel trellis and loved it. I personally do not have it nor have I seen it in person so I cannot say more but it is pretty. This little snowman is cute, if I had children or put decorations up in my yard I would get it and leave it up all winter long.
Of all of the things I have shared for Christmas these plaid trees are the most popular.

The perfect party skirt pinecones and acorns
This skirt is a classic style that looks great on everyone, and would be beautiful for holiday parties.

Embellished Beaded Earrings – Bird
I love these earrings! I also like the festive Christmas earrings too! But if you don’t wear earrings you could get the velvet embroidered shoes instead.
Isn’t this robin sweater cute? If you like to do a mini and me look it comes in an adult size too.
If you haven’t shopped at Boden yet for your holiday shopping you are missing out, there are so many beautiful pieces for the whole family.

RL plaid pajamas
Plaid and Christmas are synonymous to me and these cosy plaid pjs look just like the image of an old fashioned Christmas I have in my mind. I cane see “ma in her kerchief” wearing these.
You can see all of my Christmas 2021 Gift picks here.
That is all for today my friend, thank you for sharing a little of your day with me. Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth…and many more!
Thank you Mary!
Today’s post is beautifully calming to our hungry minds. What a gorgeous way to begin my morning along with freshly-ground holiday coffee and a cranberry-orange muffin. You are right, Elizabeth; we don’t know our tomorrows but can live our best today. Warmest birthday wishes.
Char, thank you! I am glad you liked the post. I could use a cranberry orange muffin!
Joyeux anniversaire! You shared some excellent advice.
Thank you my friend. I hope that you are doing well and have a wonderful weekend.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!YOU ARE AT THE PRIME OF YOUR LIFE!
TODAY IS MY SONS BIRTHDAY HE IS 34!MY FIRST BORN………..
WHAT WERE YOU DOING 34 YEARS AGO TODAY?CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION!
I AM LUCKY I HAVE TRAVELLED THE WORLD AT A YOUNG AGE AND HAVE STUFF TO REMIND ME OF IT AND PHOTOS!AS YOU SAID YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW!
HEALTH IS EVERYTHING and until YOU LOSE THAT GOOD HEALTH you really DONOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANING!
I AM DOING SO MUCH BETTER…………….THE MEDS ARE WORKING!
XXX
Elizabeth, I was 21 34 years ago, I was living in Wiscomsin and celebrating my birthday with my cousin who was born on Nov 11 and my aunt who was born Nov 13. I too was blessed to travel the world at a young age. I look back on all of those adventures with family and friends and love every minute of it. Thank you my friend, I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better.
Yes, Happy, happy birthday! I will have to go look at that Ann Patchett book. The dishes are so cute. And I’m checking out that plaid long-sleeved gown as well.
Brenda
Thank you so much bread. I too love that long plaid pair of pajamas, it is so cute!
So many good lessons. <3 The first is my favorite – kindness is so important and undervalued. That fall sheet pan meal looks really good and so does the cocktail from Half Baked Harvest!
Happy birthday! I hope you have a fabulous day.
Happy birthday!
Thank you William!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for writing such beautiful content which brings joy to others! I’ll keep it short( my browser keeps closing on me). Hugs to you from a Francophile ( French really ), hot chocolate lover.
Valerie, thank you for your kind wishes. I am so happy to have you here
Happy Birthday. It’s a beautiful season to celebrate you!
Thank you Maria.
Happy birthday!
Thank you Paula!
Happy Happy Birthday!