Friday's Fave Five ~ TGIF!

Fridays are my day off from teaching high school classes. I get to catch up on housework and usually schedule my 6 week haircuts for Friday mornings. Although Fridays are not a total day off because I homeschool SkateBoy, still it is slower paced.

Today I am simply posting some things I have enjoyed this week and especially today.

(Click on the link above to see more Friday's Faves.)

Pretty Purple Flowers on My PorchMy newly painted wicker sofa that SkateBoy spraypainted in "espresso." Yesterday One Fine Man and I sat here in the late afternoon and just enjoyed being together on a beautiful Florida day on our own little patch of bliss.

The wicker was originally a teal green. I had thought of painting it black but my BFF suggested brown. I love it! For now I have tossed some throw pillows on it but I'm on a search for affordable cushions. I'm looking for some in espresso and pear green.

Bird & Nest Under Cloche
This rests atop my best thrift store find: a marble topped end table for $20!
Platter with Shells
I have several shell vignettes in my home. Birds and shells keep calling my name!

I love haircut day!

My fabulous hairdresser, Susan, only charges $16 for a wash, cut and style! Now you know why I'm smiling!

Oh and the "salon" is a real beauty shop like your mama used to go to. (Well, like mine went to anyway.) I love to see the elderly women, many accompanied by their husbands, coming in for their weekly "set." Susan and the other stylists are so sweet and patient with them.

Have a beautiful weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Melanie

Friday's Favorites ~ In Every little Thing, Give Thanks!

Speaking ~ Teaching ~ Inspiring ~Motivating ~ it's one of my Favorite things to do!

Last night I had the privilege of speaking to 85 women at a combination Thanksgiving~Christmas event dubbed Thanksmas. I love opportunities to motivate, inspire, or teach women. But last night was all about fun and entertainment!

My presentation was based on I Thessalonians 5:18 ~ In everything, give thanks. While that scripture often gives us pause to reflect on the BIG things, the ETERNAL things, that we are thankful for, I tweaked it a bit and suggested that In Every little Thing, Give Thanks!

I asked each woman to take one minute and make a list of the little things, the small slices of life, the minor matters, the trivial tidbits, the tiny treasures that are worthy of her gratitude.

Time's Up!

Then I shared my list of 10 little things that I am thankful for. With each one, I inserted a little humor as I told why I am thankful for each triviality.

If a woman listed the same item as one on my list, my Christmas Elf (Guitar Girl) gave her a small gift bag with a tiny treasure! In this way I incorporated the THANKS in THANKSGIVING and the GIVING OF GIFTS in CHRISTMAS.

#1 on my list was COFFEE!

The first hand that went up with coffee on her list received a small bag of coffee...and down the list we went while the thanks and giving continued!

What an honor to stand before those beautiful women...all with a story of their own of thankfulness, gratitude and giving.

It really was a night of THANKSMAS!

I would wish you all a Herry Thanksmas, but that just sounds bad!!!

Just a little postscript~ Several women decorated tables with either a Christmas or a Thanksgiving theme. See the table I did below ~ A little Thanksgiving, of course!

Friday Favorites - It's Almost Thanksgiving Day

My favorite holiday is only 20 days from now! I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving because it is filled with faith, family, friends and food. How full of good feelings can one day be ? (Unless, of course, it's Christmas.)

But Thanksgiving has all the good feelings of Christmas without the stress that is sometimes a part of the gift-giving process. We mostly celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way...family members join for fellowship and food and food and food. Did I mention the food part?
Years ago when my two brothers and I were teens, our family of five had an unusual menu on Thanksgiving Day. One of us suggested that, instead of the traditional fare, we have Tex-Mex on Thanksgiving! (Why? I have no idea.) Instead of turkey, dressing and sweet potatoes, we ate tacos, burritos, rice and beans. It was out of the ordinary and a break from tradition, but as you can tell-unforgettable!


My favorite Thanksgiving dishes are Mother's delicious dressing, my sis-in-law's side dish (green bean or broccoli casserole), and my sweet potato souffle. For dessert, Mother makes a couple of pecan pies and I usually add a carrot cake or a buttermilk pie.


Thanksgiving Day traditions at our place: One Fine Man always runs the Turkey Trot 5 K; we watch at least one Christmas movie; we play games (scrabble, etc.); and we eat more pie!

Tell me, what are your Thanksgiving Day traditions? I'd love to hear all about it!

Friday Favorites - My Family

REFLECTION

SKATE-BOY AND BELLA~MELLA

ONE FINE MAN


TECH-SON AND SKATE-BOY





GUITAR GIRL

THE FAMILY IN DENVER

Keystone

Friday Favorites ~ an ode to Tervis

Welcome to Bella~Mella's Friday Favorites.

One of my latest favorites is the Tervis Tumbler. These tumblers have been around for 60 years but I just found out about them this year!

I got mine at BED, BATH & BEYOND, but Tervis has a website, too. They are insulated tumblers that really do keep your cold drinks colder and your hot drinks hotter.

They have a life-time warranty and sport the cutest designs~from bass fish to flip-flops. You can even buy lids for them with an opening for a straw!

Since I am notorious about spilling tea down the front of my tops, this is akin to a sippy cup for someone who may or may not be a gulper of beverages as opposed to, say, a sipper. What I like most is if you need to carry a cold drink with you at all times and leave it in your car's drink holder while you run your errands, then the Tervis Tumbler is for you. And, if you are a friend or family member of mine, don't be surprised if your Christmas gift bag includes a set of Tervis Tumblers. I'm just saying...don't be surprised!