Saturday 6+1 (6 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 3.10.18

It’s been a busy week here, but a good one overall.  I’m kind of liking sharing a Saturday 6+1, as it gives me a little more time to pull together things that I love at the end of the week, when things settle down a little bit.  I guess it will just depend on the week – some are crazier than others, right? This post contains some affiliate links.

The Key

The Key, by Kathryn Hughes,  had been on my radar for awhile, as it wasn’t released on Audible until the beginning of this month.  I got it and gobbled it up in a hurry, just like I have her other books (The Secret and The Letter – which was the first of her books that I read and loved).  The narration is by Joanne Froggatt (who you might remember as Anna Bates from Downton Abbey), and she does a wonderful job.  

Here is the down low on this book courtesy of Amazon’s summation – 

1956
It’s Ellen Crosby’s first day at work as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young girl committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various ‘cures’ available for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives forever….

2006
Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum, and whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents of the suitcase lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah may have the power to put right.

I really enjoyed this book, and it gets you on both sides of the story, the past and the present.

As a side note – I do listen to books that I don’t like and sometimes I return them, other times I muddle through them, hoping they’ll get better.  So, I don’t like everything I read.

Sharing Books with Friends for FREE

I learned something new this week too.  Did you know that you can share a book with a friend via Audible, and they can download it for FREE???  Granted, it’s a one-time deal, but how did I not know this before?  Just another reason I love Audible.  My friend shared a book with me this week, and it was on my wish list, so I dove right in!  What a nice surprise (especially since I’m currently out of credits).  I might need to up my membership level again…

Look how easy it is.  From my Audible library, you find the book you want to share and click on the three dots next to it:

Then this pops up, where you have the option to “Send this book” – 

From there, you can send it via email, text or messenger.  And notice it says, “every recipient’s first book is on us.”  So, since I’ve received and downloaded a book for free already, I can’t receive any more, but I can share with people who haven’t received one yet…

Funny Birthday Cards

I celebrated my birthday this week, and I can honestly say it’s been a really good one.  March birthdays can run the gamut when it comes to weather – I’ve had years where we’ve had horrible snowstorms and other years where it’s been in the 70’s.  While the weather wasn’t my favorite this year, this birthday card from my daughter is one of my favorites.

She told me that she bought it back around Christmas, because she thought it was so funny.  A girl after my own heart.

Dinner with Friends

One thing I wanted to do for my birthday this year was to go out to (a grown up) dinner with my friends and their spouses, which seems like an impossible task most days, with everyone having crazy schedules.  We had tried to plan something out a couple of weeks, but weren’t having much success.  We ended up pulling together a small group at the last minute (which I swear, is the best way to try and plan anything), went to a nice restaurant, and had a great evening with delicious food and old friends.  Old, as in, I’ve known these girls forever.  Not to mention one of my friends just moved back to the area and is living nearby for the first time since we were all in high school.  I don’t think we’ve ever been able to even do this, now that I think about it, which truly makes it a gift.

No false eyelashes this time – I tried to do them myself and it did not go well.  I might have to give those magnetic false eyelashes a try.  Since failing eyesight was another birthday gift this year…  But I am wearing the blue version of this classic pretty dress that I wore in a wedding the week before.

I know, dressing up two weekends in a row – what’s happening here?!?

The Best Birthday Dessert

Thank goodness my mom reads my blog, because she heard my cry for grasshopper pie, and delivered.  It tastes like my childhood. 🙂

My Husband and Apple Cider Vinegar

I know this is random, but it’s too funny not to share, and it just makes me laugh.  I think the best way to describe how my husband feels about apple cider vinegar, is to compare it to the father from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and how Windex was his magic cure for all ailments.  That’s how my husband approaches apple cider vinegar.  Looking for shiny hair?  Apple cider vinegar.  Want to lose weight?  Apple cider vinegar.  Foot rash?  Canker sore?  You got it – apple cider vinegar.

No joke, the day after my birthday, I went to the gym, stepped out of my SUV on to a patch of ice and wiped out, landing on my elbow.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to heal faster if I soak it in apple cider vinegar.  Thank goodness I didn’t break a hip.

My +1 for the Week – The Plastic Bags at the Grocery Store

Perhaps I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I swear, I feel like I’m being punched whenever I try to open one of them while I’m shopping for produce or meat.  It takes the hands of an elf or a fairy to open these bags, as I inevitably seem to struggle with these every. single. time.  

Maybe I need to BYOB to the grocery store (bring my own BAG, that is).  Although you can see that the wine section is in the background.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Have a fantastic weekend friends!

Jenny