Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 4.21.17

Hello!

This has been a fast week, since my kiddos were off school on Monday to top off their spring break.  Kind of a whirlwind, but I’m happy to get back to a more normal routine.  This girl craves structure!  Let’s get on to this week’s Friday 5+1!  This post contains some affiliate links.

Benjamin Moore’s Grand Entrance

I spotted this new Ben Moore product when I was in purchasing paint, and it caught my attention, as it’s marketed as a high end look for exterior front doors and trim.  They also feature a high gloss option, so I picked up a quart of the Grand Entrance in a great black called 10 Downing Street, for the bamboo vanity that I’m working on for a client.  Ooooh, friends, it is sharp.  Here is the vanity before:

And here is a peek at it with it’s gorgeous new high gloss finish:

Pretty, yes?  I’m really loving it!  It sprays beautifully, and I’m half tempted to give my front door the spray treatment with this stuff as well.  They have some great colors, but of course can tint to any color you’d like.  They had a great brochure of some charming colors, so that certainly didn’t hurt.

Mer Sea Candles

I spotted these Mer Sea candles at a gorgeous design studio and boutique called McKEE & Company while we were in California earlier this year, and they are worth sharing.  They smell yummy, but the added bonus is that they have this gorgeous agate coaster that comes with it, so it kicks up the cool factor with me.  A great gift idea for just about anyone.

Here are a couple of shots of the shop – I could go for this look throughout my entire home (especially if I lived in California).  So fresh, beachy and beautiful.  You can check out their stunning design portfolio here.

It Ends with Us

Ok, so I just started this book – “It Ends with Us”, but it’s one of those that hooks you in early with an interesting storyline.  Plus, it got a great rating on Audible, so I’m trusting that it will live up to expectations.  And, it was on sale at Audible, so added bonus there.  (If a book is less than $13-$15, I buy it vs. using my credits, since some books I listen to end up being $25-$30).

A blurb about the book from Amazon – 

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. 

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

Audible Customer Service

While we’re talking about Audible, I have to give them snaps for customer service, as I was running into a glitch when I tried to buy “It Ends with Us”.  I called their customer service line, and the nice young man I spoke with ended up giving me a free credit because things were acting so goofy.  You gotta love it when a company steps up without even having to ask them.  Two thumbs up here.

My New Address Stamp

Since I’m addressing (gulp) senior graduation announcements, I finally bought one of those cute return address stamps.  I don’t know what took me so long, but I love it!  I swear, it’s the little things that make me happy.

My +1 for the Week: Missing out on an awesome thrift store steal

I swear, I missed out on this piece of furniture by a matter of minutes.  The lady who swiped it out from under me had just taken the sticker to purchase it when I was walking by.  I circled for awhile, browsing other pieces of furniture, hoping she would change her mind, but no luck.  Alas, it wasn’t to be mine, but I had to sneak a picture.  Discreetly, of course.

I know, right?  Oh, the makeover I could have given you (perhaps in Ben Moore’s high gloss Grand Entrance paint)…  I hope your new owner treats you well.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Jenny