Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 7.12.19

It’s hard to believe the kids will be going back to school in just more than a month, and I want time to just slow down a bit before we’re thrown back into strict schedules again.  Although, I’ll only have one kiddo at home with my boys both heading to college.  I’m still living in a bit of denial right now, so just play along with me, will you?  In the meantime, let’s distract ourselves from all of the school talk with a Friday 5+1!  This post contains some affiliate links.

A Gorgeous Kitchen Remodel

My friend Lisa, from Shine DIY & Design shared her kitchen reveal on her blog, and I just love how it turned out.  She made changes over the years to work with what she had until they were ready to take the plunge on a full remodel, and it was worth the wait!  So many beautiful details that make it custom.  I connected with Lisa early in my blogging days, and had the opportunity to meet her at Haven last year, and she was just as sweet in person as I had expected her to be.  

Here is a sneak peek at the remodel, click here for the full before and after (including her bologna colored countertops). 

These Is My Words

I haven’t shared any books lately, and I’ve been plowing through them like nobody’s business lately, so bear with me as I do a brain dump on some of my favorites.  These Is My Words is a new one for me in terms of the era in which it took place, and I think an alternate title could have been “Tales of a Bad Ass Pioneer Woman”.  It’s the first of a series of three books that is based upon journals that were written by Sarah Prine.  I was so happy to find that there were more books to follow after to the first one (Sarah’s Quilt and The Star Garden) because when it ended I wanted to know what happened next!  I felt like I was part of the family by the time I finished the series.  A real tribute to the strength, determination and impact that women had during a time period that is hard to fathom today.

Blue-Q Zipper Pouches

You all know how much I love the Blue-Q socks that have all sorts of hysterical and sometimes irreverent sayings on them.  Well, I was in a store the other day and spotted these fun Blue-Q zipper pouches.  I think they’re my new favorite thing.  I think you should start your Christmas shopping now, and pick up some of these cute zipper pouches for your friends and family who will appreciate them.  There is a shape, size and saying for everyone.  

Here is one I spotted online.  No offense if you’re a cat person. 😉  But if you’re a dog person and have a friend who is a cat person – bingo, perfect holiday gift.

Or, if your kids are watching Stranger Things and have finally discovered how cool the 80’s were, this is a great option.  My oldest son downloaded a Stranger Things playlist and asked me if I knew the songs, and my daughter wants an 80’s style shirt for the first day of school to wear with her “mom jeans” or maybe a pair of “mom shorts”.  Such a proud mom moment.

Zibra Paint Brush

I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a paint brush snob.  I have certain brushes that I use regularly, and love them.  That said, I’m still always on the lookout for new and better ways of doing things.  This Zibra paint brush had been on my radar for awhile, and I recently bought it and used it on a kitchen I was working on.  Painting the base trim around the floors can be tricky, no matter how well you tape things off, and this paint brush worked wonders in that regard.  The angle and size of it allowed me to control the paint much better.  It’s also great in corners.  A nice tool to have in your arsenal!

The Cactus

Since I haven’t shared books in awhile, I’m going to share another one here.  The Cactus was one of those books that I found funny and endearing all at once.  I’ll let Amazon do the summary – I’m at a loss on fully capturing this one, and it’s summed up perfectly here. 

“Even the prickliest cactus has its flower….

For Susan Green, messy emotions don’t fit into the equation of her perfectly ordered life. She has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an “interpersonal arrangement” that provides cultural and other more intimate benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that she is about to become a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is realized. She is losing control.

When she learns that her mother’s will inexplicably favors her indolent brother, Edward, Susan’s already dismantled world is sent flying into a tailspin. As Susan’s due date draws near and her family problems become increasingly difficult to ignore, Susan finds help and self-discovery in the most unlikely of places.

Featuring an endearing cast of characters and tremendous heart, The Cactus is a poignant debut and a delightful reminder that some things can’t be explained by logic alone.”

My +1 for the week – That Sneaky Facebook (again)

Remember how I mentioned that I’ve found that if I talk about a certain product it all of a sudden shows up in my Facebook newsfeed?  (Never mind that there was a time that I used a product that showed up in my newsfeed, without even talking about it…)  Well, I saw a news story recently about this very thing.  The reporters sat and talked about a product, and then showed how it came up as an ad in their newsfeed.  What I didn’t know, is that there is a setting on your phone that allows this to happen.  And it’s sneaky.

I have an iPhone, so I can’t speak to how it’s set up on an Android, but if you go to Settings>Privacy>Microphone and check and see if Facebook is listed and if the microphone turned ON, it means that Facebook has access to your microphone.  Granted, there are legitimate reasons you would want your microphone turned on for Facebook (if you do Facebook Lives, for example).  But, this same feature can work in a way that I never considered (nor do I like it) – and that’s how things show up in your feed after you talk about them.  They are listening!  So, as you can see, my microphone is turned OFF.

You’re welcome.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Jenny