Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t)

Hello!

The kids started back to school this week, so we’re all dragging a bit more than usual.  I typically get up at a decent hour, even during the summer, but there is something about being required to wake up that is just plain exhausting.  

Are you ready for this week’s Friday 5+1?  This post may contain some affiliate links.

Restoration Hardware Outlet
A VERY exciting announcement was made in our area this week.  A Restoration Hardware Outlet is opening near me.  When I say “near me”, I’m talking, just down the street from where I get my groceries every week.  I don’t know how we hit that lottery, but I’m very excited about it.  Apparently, it’s going to open in September!  I will be sure to take a tour and share the goodies with you, don’t you worry.  I mean, it’s kind of like, my job, right?  I’m doing it for you guys.

I did a quick search on other RH outlets, to see if I could get an idea of what to expect.  I’m hoping that ours will live up to expectations.

Roku
I don’t know about you, but I’m about tired of paying way too much for our cable bill.  It’s really gotten out of control, with all of the cable boxes, remotes, movie channels, etc…  I’m about ready to cut the cable cord.  For real.  We’re finding that we watch a lot of different shows through streaming services like Netflix (hello, House of Cards), and Amazon Instant Video vs. watching them on tv.  We use our Roku to watch these different streaming services, and it is just plain awesome.  

So, if we cut the cord, this will be our means to catch our favorite shows.  We also have a Roku Stick (similar to Chromecast), which just plugs in to the side of your tv.

Have any of you cut the cable cord?  I really don’t think I would miss it!  I don’t have the TV on during the day.  I watch a little bit in the morning when the kids are getting ready for school, and a bit at night, but that’s it.  It’s sad that we have a zillion tv channels, but yet we still can’t find anything to watch on tv.

Unique Gifts
The holidays aren’t that far away (believe me, I’m in no way ready either), but I love it when I stumble upon great gift ideas for people who have everything.  These would also make fun hostess gifts as well.  I snapped up three of these towels with clever sayings on them at a local shop called Fleurish Home, and stored them away to grab when I need a gift in a hurry.  Here are a couple of them:

My favorite:

Stylish Pet Products
I guess I have puppy on the brain, because these cool pottery pieces had me at hello when I saw them.  Yes, they’re pet bowls.  I think these are quite possibly the most hip and attractive pet bowls I’ve ever seen.  They would fit seamlessly into your home vs. just holding dog food.  If you didn’t have pets, you could pull the metal bowls out and replace them with your own and use them as serving dishes.  Love.  Again, found these at Fleurish Home.

Cool Cutting Boards
These cutting boards caught my eye too.  I love the dipped look (makes it pretty to display), and the metal handle on them is something you don’t see every day either.  Again, found these at Fleurish Home.  See why I love this place?

My +1 Thing I Don’t Like right now is light bulbs.  Yes, light bulbs.  Allow me to explain with simple bullet points, and tell me if you disagree.

• Many of the new light bulbs are ugly.  I give you Exhibit A:

Exhibit A: Ugly Squiggly Lighbulb

• The new light bulbs are expensive.  Who wants to pay $10 for a light bulb?  Yes, I know it’s “energy saving” and all, but what happens when you get a dud?  Are you really going to take it back to the store and tell them, “Hey, my light bulb was supposed to last five years, and it died after three.  Give me a new one.”
• Many of them have to “warm up” when you turn them on.  That’s just plain annoying.  When I turn on a light, I want it “on”.
• The main reason this even came up is because we couldn’t find replacement bulbs for our under cabinet lighting because they apparently just don’t make them anymore.  They make one that is oh-so-close, but doesn’t work.  So, we had to buy new under cabinet lighting as a result.  Even though what we had worked perfectly fine.

Don’t even get me started on LED Christmas lights.