Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 11.16.18

We woke up to ice here yesterday, so once again, it seems as though we touched on fall and jumped right into winter.  You’d think I’d be used to it by now – living in the Midwest for so long.  Instead, I worked onsite at a home remodel today and the power went out on us twice due to the ice.  So, let’s get on with bigger and better things like this week’s Friday 5+1!  This post contains some affiliate links.

Treemendous Ornament Decorating Kit

I spotted this Treemendous Ornament Decorating Kit and thought that it looked like a fun little project for kiddos, as it’s rated for kids age six and up.  Plus, the ornaments look pretty cute too.  A perfect project to keep the kids busy on a snow (or ice) day, right?

Banister Garland Hangers

Since I invested in some pretty garland for my banister, I am thinking about adding these banister garland hangers to my list as well.  I spotted them in a video about decorating garlands, and they make it so easy to hang your garland with a polished, classic look.  They clip to your banister, and then you hang the garland on the hook.  So clever.

Snowflake Multi-tool

Here’s a great stocking stuffer for just about anyone on your Christmas list.  I could easily tote one of these snowflake multi-tools in my purse or keep it in my car or glove compartment to use in a pinch.  Small and easy to store, yet super functional!

Funny Cards

I don’t know about you, but if I come across cards that make me laugh out loud, I pick them up and tuck them away for future use.  When I was browsing some local shops, I came across some good ones, and I’m thinking many of you appreciate small things like this as well.  They’re from FrankandFunny.com. Here is one of my favorites:

Even the back of the card is funny.  Apparently these cards are written by stand-up comics.  No wonder they’re so funny.

Where The Crawdads Sing

I just finished Where the Crawdads Sing today, and thought I would share it with you.  It’s different from other books that I typically read, but still captivating in its own way.  The characters are well developed, and intriguing – especially the main character, Kya, who is nicknamed the “Marsh Girl” – as she lives on her own in the marshes of North Carolina.  You grow to know and empathize with her plight and follow her story, mentally encouraging her throughout the book.

Here is a snippet from Amazon:

“For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life – until the unthinkable happens. 

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.”

My +1 for the week – Expensive Lightbulbs that Flicker

On more than one occasion, I have complained about the “new lightbulbs.”   How it’s hard to figure out which ones to buy (so your husband’s office doesn’t look like a UFO just landed in there).  How they cost so much for just ONE lightbulb.  How they’re guaranteed for like, 20 years (no joke, look at the packaging on lightbulbs the next time you’re shopping).  And after all of this – my super-expensive-long-life-bright-as-the-sun-lightbulbs start flickering.  

Seriously?  Am I wrong for missing my old school incandescents?  Why does electricity have to be so complicated?

Have an awesome weekend!  

Jenny