Friday, May 29, 2026

Happy Friday! How was your short week after the Monday Memorial Day holiday? I’m always thrown off a bit – yes, even in retirement!

Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites from the week.

On Memorial Day, I finished cleaning – I cleaned a ton on Sunday – and then did an old fashioned Target wander. It was nice! I returned the two coolers I had bought and I am in search of something a little different. I want it to be more tote bag-like, I think.

Then, Tom and I decided to go to lunch! We were going to go out for fish and chips, but the place was too busy, so we ended up at Five Guys! Yum! I hadn’t had a burger or fries for that matter in a really long time. So, this was basically our Memorial Day cook out! I reminded Tom that the junior is quite big enough but he ordered the regular sized and then stated, “this is just too big”. Always listen to your wife, Tom!

We had no plans. Kids had to work and many of our friends were out of town. Boating was out due to the high river from all the rains. Ho hum. Tom mowed and I watched some tv and then I was able to sit outside and read until it started raining – again! Oh well.

I posted my May books yesterday but I hadn’t finished this at the time of the posting and I don’t think I will finish it now. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it’s too far-fetched and southern cheesy. Spoiler coming so scroll to after the paragraph after the photo of the book jacket.

Parents of 3-year-old twins leave them to be watched by a woman they have met like twice to go on a trip out of the country! The main character wants to lie/not reveal information about the birth parents of a foster baby so she can adopt said baby! She gets an Easter basket for a couple week old baby! Lol – the last one is not that big of a deal. It’s just crazy. I read many far-fetched books but this one is apparently my limit. I am sorry if you are a fan of this author.

SPOILER OVER!

I made Memorial Day manicotti – Maria talked about it and I thought I would try it – with brussel sprouts and turkey sausage. The manicotti is vegetarian and Tom requires meat at each meal thus the sausage.

It’s hard to get the filling in the tubular pasta – I used both a baggie with the tip cut and a long spoon. Neither was very easy. It turned out great, though!

I also had a glass of this:

If you belong to Costco, you can’t beat some of their wines for $8!

While at Target, I discovered they now carry three flavors of Laundry Sauce so you no longer have to buy it “sight unsmelled”. It’s too expensive. Have we gone too far with our scented laundry needs? I need to look at my household products and opt for cleaner versions, I know.

The Dollar Spot/$5 Spot at the front of the store had some cute things but I resisted:

I am thinking of decorating my porches in red, white, and blue or nautical themed items but can Eddie Otis handle my accessories this summer? That is the question. I will test out my old lemon pillows and see if he can resist.

Favorite blog comment I received this week…

“I increasingly suspect the last interesting people on the internet are hiding in corners like this, quietly exchanging thoughts while the rest of civilization live-streams itself eating drywall.”

It made me laugh and I took it to mean that I am interesting? I really love the blog world. I am hanging tight to the old school blog style.

I have been telling you/told you that we got a bakery chain right by my house. There is a line out the door every time I pass! It’s crazy! This photo was taken at 6:00 am on my way to the gym so this would be the only time I could go! They are open from 6 am until 9 pm. Wow!

I am enjoying this type of clip in my hair. I got this one and a pink pearlized one.

I broke out my fan, and it reminded me how great fans are. Lol. Duh. Get you a fan if you don’t have one!

I made a coffee cake because I was craving it and this brand is so good.

My umbrella broke so I ordered a clear one from Target. Clear are so great! You can still see!

I didn’t realize the NYX Butter Gloss came in clear – speaking of clear – so you can turn any lipstick into a gloss.

I like a coral in the summer so I bought this:

It is Revlon Dewy Peach and a nice light formula.

The topic of our names on Hodgepodge was really fun on Wednesday if you missed it! I should have also mentioned that I love my sisters’ names – Kate Eileen and Molly Anne. Kate is not short for anything and she is not a “Katie”. Sometimes one of our cousins calls her that but she is simply “Kate” and it really fits her. Molly has always thought she had a dog name. I took horseback riding lessons and my horse was named “Molly” and that really ticked her off. Molly totally fits her as the baby of the family, the one who made all of us laugh, you know?

Speaking of dogs and horses…

This thing is amazing! My basement stairs and basement are carpeted and even though EO is not allowed in the basement yet, his hair migrates to the stairs. It was $6.99. I plan to use it before vacuuming in the future. You do not want to know the amount of hair this got up for me.

A big change to our daily routine already is the fact that school is out and that matters to me because I live in front of an elementary school yard!

Eddie Otis trotting around the playground like he owns the place now:

I made a homemade tick spray with stuff I already had at home. I did leave out the geranium oil.

Yes, I am kind of nervous about the ticks this season.

And I will leave you with something just too cute for words, in my opinion.

Eddie Otis is not allowed in the basement yet. We keep a baby gate at the top of the stairs. When Tom is home in the evenings, I can go down. Yes, it’s crazy the things we do for our dogs or the things we sacrifice for our dogs.

We have these rungs and when I go down he likes to “play” with me. I stick my hand through a rung to him and he “guesses” which one I am going to go through and he sticks his paw through to me. It’s hard to get a photo of this but you will have to trust me that his big ol’ furry paws are so cute and I just love playing this with him. I know he hates that he can’t come down yet. I am going to EO proof it soon. We are gradually leaving more doors and spaces open to him.

Tell me something that was a favorite of yours this week!

Thanks for reading,

Amy

20 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Looks like you had a lovely Memorial Day. We have a Five Guys that opened recently over here in the city, which is just about a miracle! I’m still waiting for Chick-fil-A. I’ll have to make it a priority to go there in the school holidays!

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    1. Thank you! Their burgers are really good and I love their fries. They are very generous and dump a ton in your bag. I haven’t been to CFA in a long time but it’s so popular.

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  2. I have always wanted to try Five Guys. We have them over here but I never quite get around to visiting when we are near one. That book does sound very far fetched. Your manicotti looks good and that does sound like a great bakery!

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    1. You know what? I think I used the Five Guys bathroom in York! Their burgers are really good in my opinion. The Junior is like a normal sized one. Their fries are amazing, too. It is so far fetched. The manicotti is delish and tastes similar to lasagna due to the ricotta.

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  3. We went to 5 Guys this past weekend too… and could not believe that it cost us $50 for burgers and fries for 2– I didn’t even get ANYTHING at all to drink. We found ourselves wishing we had opted for one of the sit down places nearby where we probably would have spent around the same amount but at least have been served. Your memorial day weekend sounds a lot like ours. We spent it working on the yard, escaping the rain inside reading and watching TV, but no big real plans. I like some of Woodson Harvey’s books but not all and even without reading your review this was one I hadn’t bothered requesting from our library. I can’t say for sure why but it just wasn’t on my “must read” list this year. If I had to guess I’d say I’m looking to read more comedy and romance and less family drama.

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    1. I think our bill was $34 and Tom said the same! Everything is just so expensive!
      You were smart. This book is just no for me. I think I enjoyed one or two of hers in the past. I have some new library requests ready that I can’t wait to go get today.

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  4. The Krusteaz brand is a good one and the name cracks me up, too, so there is that! Five Guys is also really good and I haven’t had it in probably two years. We talk about going but never do. I’m also positive I saw a Paris Baguette in Cincy this week but maybe I was seeing things? Crazy that it’s so popular! Abby and I went to one in NJ and it was fine? Not something incredible in my opinion. That’s cool that you made manicotti. Honestly getting the filling into the pasta has sounded like such a pain that I’ve not made it- it’s something I tend to order in restaurants due to me not wanting to make it at home :). The reader comment is so funny. It’s strange to me that there’s a whole huge world that I’m not a part of since I’m not on TK or FB or IG. I do interact online- I just do it through blogging!

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    1. I agree! I probably say it more like “Crusteez” and that might not be right. I had a craving for coffee cake and this hit the spot this week as my late morning snack. I did not order any sandwich from Paris Baguette and just picked a few pastries and it was ok but nothing I have to have. You know how people just go gaga for new things.
      I think you could easily handle the manicotti since you are a piper. Hehe. It was a super easy recipe and it was truly really good. I used the All Recipes one and Prego marinara. The comment was actually from a post I wrote back in January but he had just read the post I guess. I personally think people need and want old school freestyle blogging and sharing of thoughts.

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  5. I definitely think that comment meant you are interesting!

    I need to get a clear umbrella at Target and check out that laundry sauce. I know, everyone is talking about how toxic all these fragrances are but for the love of God I have been marinating in toxicity since 68, the damage is done! Ha!!

    Have a great weekend!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Thank you!
      They have different color trims. I did a Target pick up to get mine. I love it! I didn’t find the Laundry Sauce to smell that great. My favorite is Bath and Body because of you! Moonlit Goddess was my scent but I might go smell some that are a bit more summery? I currently have the No. 26 and Diva, too. B and B wins!
      Same! I’m gonna have something toxic somehow and this detergent is kinda like my perfume since I don’t have any perfume.

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  6. I don’t cook manicotti or lasagna noodles anymore when making those dishes. I add a little water to the sauce if needed, but can usually make it and cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for a bit and cook with the foil on and the pasta softens just fine. I don’t even buy the special oven ready noodles. I just get the regular and follow my regular recipes.

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  7. I love a good old fashioned Target wander! I feel like I had one of those myself recently, but maybe it’s been a couple of months. Either way, I love browsing. Your manicotti looks amazing! The sausage with it made me laugh. I love a vegetarian meal, but sometimes I’ll get hungry if it doesn’t have enough protein. I have always been impressed by people who can make this dish turn out even somewhat pretty; I’ve heard it’s messy to make. I love the game you play with EO! He looks adorable and pouty sitting there while you descend the stairs. I get it with the dog proofing, though. A favorite for me this week has been the freedom to stay home during the day time, and also getting in lots of time to read. Happy Weekend to you! I hope you enjoy it and get to go out on the boat.

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    1. Me too! It had been a long time! I did pretty well in not letting things jump into my cart.
      I agree that the protein helps fill you up so much.
      It wasn’t too bad. It’s a funny game. Isn’t that the best – easing slowly into your day! No boating for a bit due to high river, sadly.

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  8. It’s nice to have time to read your blog again! I have been away from home for half of May moving my girls to jobs in other states. The description of the book you are not going to finish had me laughing out loud! Who leaves their kids with someone they don’t know that well?! 😂 My mom had a clear umbrella like that when I was a kid. I would ride my tricycle with it in the rain pretending I was in a car 🤣

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    1. Aww! Thank you! What a whirlwind! I bet that was hard and emotional. Thinking of you!
      Haha – see! I was so triggered. Well, she was a NICU nurse. She would also be in charge of the loony tunes great aunt. She also had to work three twelve hour shifts as a nurse. No big deal.
      Clear umbrellas are amazing! I can see clearly now the rain is gone!
      That is a funny memory! I love that! And, apparently you could drive one-handed on your trike!

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