Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 10.20.17

I honestly don’t know where the weeks are going.  Every time I turn around, we’re rolling into the weekend.  I think it’s because I’m working on a One Room Challenge makeover – time seems to go at warp speed during that six weeks.  And Christmas (gulp) is just over two months away.  So not ready for that.  I’m still getting my fall groove on.  Let’s get things rolling with this week’s Friday 5+1.  This post contains some affiliate links.

Little Fires Everywhere

Little Fires Everywhere has popped up into my Audible list for awhile, and I finally bit the bullet and listened to it.  Suffice to say, I plowed through it in about three days.  It grabs you from the beginning, and I really enjoyed how the author detailed the characters so thoroughly, that you felt like you understood them as you were reading.  As a result, you could see the perspectives of the different characters in a variety of difficult situations, and it left me thinking even after I finished it.  Great read, and now I’m thinking I need to read her first book Everything I Never Told You.  Because aren’t the first books usually the best ones?  

Here is the Amazon description:

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned – from the layout of the winding roads to the colors of the houses to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter, Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants – all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town – and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.

Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

Coach House Garage Door Kit

I love finding things that give you an upscale look without breaking the bank.  Look at this coach house garage door kit that takes an ordinary garage door to extraordinary.  Wow.

Of course, if this is too much, there are still other options.  I shared these magnetic garage door accents awhile back, and I still think they’re a great way to add some character to your home’s exterior.

Creative Thanksgiving Table

Do you think I could get Colleen from Lemon Thistle to come over and style my Thanksgiving table?  I’m so in awe of people who have hand lettering skills – this is just too pretty for words.  So simple, but so perfect.

Delicious Pumpkin Bars

I love all things pumpkin at this time of year (although the pumpkin spice trend has gotten a bit out of control), but pumpkin bars are a long standing favorite.  I made these pumpkin bars from Lexi Michelle Blog recently, and they did not disappoint!  I even went half and half on oil/natural applesauce.  Delicious!

Gorgeous Lakehouse

Check out this stunning lake home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

It looks like it’s made for a large family gathering, doesn’t it?

SaveSaveSaveSaveMy +1 for the week:  Me, in line.

If for some crazy reason you see me in line at a store (any store), and you’re looking to get through quickly, don’t get behind me.  Because no matter what, it seems like I always pick the wrong line.  If I change lines, that new line now becomes the wrong line.  Case in point yesterday, I’m looking at the lines, think I scored a good one, and end up waiting, waiting, waiting.  Oh look, someone’s writing a check…  That’s me – waiting.  Oh look, this lady is arguing with the clerk about the price of her two apples.  That’s me, waiting.

It even happened at Magnolia Market in Waco.  Huge line to buy merchandise, but oh look, this lady is checking people out with a mobile checkout.  I’ll just pop over here behind two people vs. like, TEN people.  Nope.  The entire line I was originally in, cleared out before I checked out in the “quick mobile line”.

Have a great weekend!

Jenny

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