Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 9.28.17

I’m bracing myself for a crazy weekend, as it’s homecoming here and somehow we’re hosting an after-homecoming party, so I’m anticipating a loud Saturday night.  But, while it might be loud, I like knowing where my kid(s) are, I just hope I don’t have to play bouncer or anything like that.  The temps are finally cooling down, so my plan is to encourage them to go outside.  The upside is that the kids are off school today, so I’m hoping that perhaps I get to sleep in just a little bit.  Let’s get this weekend kicked off with this week’s Friday 5+1!  This post contains some affiliate links.

Outdoor Fire Pit

Since we still haven’t splurged on an outdoor fireplace for our paver patio project, I decided to bite the bullet and get a fire pit until we do.  While I love the look of an outdoor fireplace, I have to admit that I love the function of a fire pit, if that makes sense.  I like that a fire pit encourages people to sit around it, and you can’t do that in the same way with a fireplace.  So, I ordered this fire pit this week, and it arrived today so I’ll be able to kick the kids outside to roast marshmallows. 🙂  I debated on size, style, look, etc…, and ended up with this rectangular fire pit that gives plenty of room for a group to gather.

Hamilton+Steel+Wood+Burning+Fire+Pit+table

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

I’m working on a separate post about this, but let me tell you that vinyl flooring has come a long way people.  This Stainmaster luxury vinyl plank flooring kind of blew my mind – the look and feel of it is crazy good!

Washed Oak Vinyl Flooring

The Good Daughter

I’m just finishing The Good Daughter by Karen Slaughter – a mystery with two different, but intertwined storylines that leave you guessing.  

The Good Daughter

Here is the Amazon description –

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind….

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father – Pikeville’s notorious defense attorney – devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlie has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a lawyer herself – the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again – and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized – Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it’s a case that unleashes the terrible memories she’s spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly 30 years ago won’t stay buried forever.

Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

Cryotherapy

Don’t worry, I’m not talking about freezing my body to be thawed at a future date.  My husband and I listened to a podcast recently that talked about cryotherapy as a means of reducing inflammation in your body.  I had talked to a couple of women at my gym about it, and they had both done it and loved it.  One has arthritis in her knee, and said she wished she could do it every day.  So I figured I’d check it out and see what all of the fuss is about.

To give you an idea about how it works, basically, you go into a chamber that is anywhere from 160-200 degrees below zero for about three minutes.  It sounds a bit crazy, I know.  I felt a little crazy when I was doing it, but I have to admit, I felt pretty darn amazing when I came out.

Cryotherapy

My only issue was that when it was time to come out, I ended up acting like a student from “Midvale School for the Gifted”.  You can see there is a handle on the door, and I assumed it was a “pull” handle, not a “push” handle.  Ooops.  And for the record, there was no “Push” sign on the door.

At any rate, it was pretty neat, and I felt fantastic when I was done.  I’ll also share that there was a guy in there before me who comes about four times a week – he’s European, and apparently cryotherapy is more mainstream over there.  And as I was getting ready to leave, a doctor was in there for a cryotherapy session.  So I feel somewhat validated.

Grocery Prepped Meals

While I’m still mad at Kroger for moving everything around (and have been shopping at a different location as a result), I have to say that I’m pretty impressed at how they’re jumping on the meal prep bandwagon with their own dinner selections.  A nice way to test out the idea without having to commit to it through an online provider.

Kroger Prepared Dinners

My +1 for the week – Restoration Hardware requiring “membership” to get reduced prices

I am getting ready to participate in the One Room Challenge again this fall, so I’m actually trying to put a plan together vs. just jumping in and doing things on the fly.  As a result, I was on the Restoration Hardware website looking at some items, and noticed that they had prices listed for “members” vs. “regular” pricing that was higher.  

I can’t put my finger on the exact reason why, but this really rubbed me the wrong way.  

Restoration Hardware Member Pricing

In all fairness, here’s what you get for the $100 annual fee for membership – 

  • 25% Savings on All Full-Priced Merchandise
  • Additional 20% Savings on All Sale Items
  • Complimentary interior design services
  • Concierge service to manage your orders
  • Preferred financing† plans on the RH Credit Card available, subject to approval
  • Early access to clearance events

It just seems like a stretch to me, especially as someone who doesn’t buy much from Restoration Hardware.  We can all probably agree that they are a bit on the high end in terms of pricing, so the membership fee just seems a bit over the top in my mind.  And this is coming from a girl who lives near a Restoration Hardware Outlet, and still finds some of the prices to be a little steep.  Don’t get me wrong, there are deals, but some things are still priced awfully high, even though they’re “reduced”.

Have a great weekend!

Jenny

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 Comments

  • Reply
    AliJ
    September 29, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    We just had vinyl plank flooring installed – LOVE IT! I was all on the “I’m getting hardwood floors” wagon but after talking to the person from the flooring store, at this stage of my life, vinyl makes much more sense for our family. We’ve only had it a few weeks, but we love it!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      September 29, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      I am blown away at the vinyl options out there! They are so real looking that I have to touch and feel them to be sure. And I love that they have waterproof options out there too!

  • Reply
    Patricia
    September 29, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    First , I have to say that I LOVE your Friday 5 + 1 – always look forward to it cause I’ve found some interesting things to use or buy, always order the book you recommend from the library, etc. And most of the time I agree with your 1 thing you don’t like ! Today is. no exception ! I find the Restoration Hardware ‘member’ price just ridiculous ! Unless you are a designer, and buying furniture frequently for your clients, why would you shop there when they do that ? So many other comparable high end stores……
    I have been thinking of trying cryotherapy – are there many options in your area, and how did you find it ?
    Thanks for a great blog – always enjoy it !

    • Reply
      Jenny
      September 29, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      Thanks so much Patricia. I was really surprised at the Restoration Hardware membership thing – seems like they’re trying new ways to get even more $$ from people. Turned me off for sure – I’ll stick to the outlet. 🙂

      I found the cryotherapy place based upon chatting with the women at my gym. I think it’s definitely a newer thing (at least here), but it’s really intriguing. I also tried their compression therapy (called Normantec) which is supposed to help with getting the “junk” out of your lymphatic system. I did it on my lower body, and it’s kind of like having your blood pressure taken on your legs. Good stuff!

  • Reply
    Rosie
    September 29, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    I wait every Friday for you email…. I love it!
    I want to read all your comments on the books you have listen too.
    I just finished the book 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross….. I am still thinking about it.
    Give it a try.
    Have fun this Saturday night….. you are a good mom!!!!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      September 29, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      You are too kind Rosie! I will add 15 Seconds to my list! I am always on the lookout for a new read! Have an awesome weekend.

  • Reply
    jill
    September 29, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Totally agree on the LVT and laminate planks too. If they had them then, like they do now, when we built our home 18 years ago I would have never spend the $$$ on the hardwood floors which are constantly getting scratched up and cost a forturne and messy to refinish. I am seriously considering a plank laminate to go over our orange-y hardwoods rather then refinish yet again. I truly can not tell they are laminate!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      September 29, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      There are so many crazy good and amazingly practical options out there. I love it!

  • Reply
    Francine Valderrama
    September 30, 2017 at 11:21 am

    I so enjoy your Friday 5+1, especially your book recommendations. RH is a site I no longer visit because of the membership nonsense. We live near an outlet also–it is an overpriced disappointment.

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