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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.

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.

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

Moving for Better Weather Won’t Make You Happier. Chasing the sun usually isn’t worth it. Learn to like the climate you’ve got instead.

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

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.

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! 

Twas the Season of Advent

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  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  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.

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

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

Isn’t thisIf you like to do a  mini and me look it comes in an

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.

Plaid and Christmas are synonymous to me and theselook 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.