Friday Favorites May 23, 2025: Summer Blanket, New Song , The Last Thing He Told Me, DJ x Jack Rogers and Good Everyday WIne

 

Hey Besties, I am back. I am not going to lie to you, this has been a really weird month. This month was capped off last weekend by a 15 minute storm on Friday night that took out around 15 trees on our main road in our neighborhood where we lost power for over 24 hours. So many friends and neighbors were impact and the roads were closed all over the neighborhood until Wednesday. We were safe but it just continued the weird energy that May is giving. 

Today, I need to focus on some fun and share a few things that are bringing me Joy when things are going sideways. I am ready to be back and link-up with Erika and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites.

1. Better Homes & Gardens Luxury Gauze Reversible Blanket

The blanket we had on our bed was really more of a winter blanket and we have had it for more than 15 years. With summer coming I wanted something lighter but also wanted a really soft blanket. The Better Home & Gardens line at Walmart is really high quality at a Good price point.  You would never know this blanket was under $30. 

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What's Up Wednesday January 2025

 

Hey there Besties, we are slowly but surely making our way through January. This month feels long doesn't it? Now that we are nearing the end of January, I am linking up with Shay and Shaeffer for What's Up Wednesday. Even though I know January has been challenging for a lot of people, but let's finish this month strong.

What We're Eating This Week

Monday-Running Daddy has a class on Monday night so we both do our own thing. I had a turkey burger, a few sweet potato fries and cucumbers.

Tuesday-Taco bowls with salad.

Wednesday-Sheet pan chicken parmesan with salad

Thursday-Not sure yet, I need to figure that out.

Friday-We are going out on Friday. More to come on that.

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Friday Favorites November 15, 2024: Cute Slippers, Trader Joe's Wine, Perfect Palette, Magnesium Spray, and Good Body Serum

 

Hey Hey Friday, so Good to see you. This week felt long but the workdays went by quickly. Has anyone had weeks like this? Today I am taking a moment to link up with Erika and Andrea and share the simple pleasures that brought me Joy this week. I have a Trader Joe's wine, two body care products, a beautiful makeup palette and super cute dupe slippers to keep you warm. Let's roll into the weekend and enjoy Friday Favorites!

 1. Super Cute Dupe Slippers

My feet are always cold and I have slippers on in the house all the time. I have been seeing the clog-style slippers everywhere this season but I definitely wanted a pair that didn't break the bank. After buying several other options and returning them, I landed on these slippers from Walmart. 

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What's Up Wednesday-July 2024

 

Happy Wednesday Besties! It's been a few months since I joined Shay and Shaeffer for What's Up Wednesday but I am excited to be back this month for this fun link-up. May and June were so busy at the end of the month that this post was just not in the cards. I am looking forward to sharing with you a little food, a little fashion, what I am watching and everything else that happened in July. Are you ready? Let's do this!

What We're Eating This Week

I don't have a set menu this week because there is a lot going on this week, so I am not sure we will be eating together most nights this week. I have a house full of food so no one will starve. For the nights I think we are eating together, here is what we are having.

Tuesday-Enchilada tacos, black beans, salad

Thursday-Running Daddy's parents are coming over and I think we are just going to get pizza. 

What I'm Reminiscing About

With Hockey Guy having a big birthday coming up and going to college next month, I am reminiscing about a lot. I am thinking a little bit about how we have been in our house for 18 years and he was just about to be born when we moved in. I am not a person who wants time to slow down, time will do what it does. I am just a person who right now, is enjoying this time.

One the college drop-off part, I am mostly doing ok, but I keep telling people that reserve my right to fall apart. For the most part I am doing ok and keeping myself distracted with the to-do lists, but I also excel at suppressing my feelings. Things you may not realize about me. 

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Monthly Musings April 2024: All Things Spring

 

Oh Besties, I am so loving spring this year. I always love spring but there is something about spring 2024 that is really making me notice all of the flowers, colors and gorgeous weather this time around.

My spring mood is perfect for Monthly Musings because Holly and I are joining the talented women who participate in this monthly linkup for all things spring.  Are you ready? I sure am!

1. Favorite thing about spring?

This year, and almost every year, I am all about the flowers. I love to drive through Old Town and other parts of our neighborhood and just take in people's flowers. I am super proud of some of the flowers that I have planted, transplanted and helped cultivate over the years.

Below are some of the flowers from seasons past in our yard. I had to use photos from previous years because I got home too late to take photos and it was already dark out.

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Friday Favorites: January 20, 2023-She Said, The Way Home, a Good Red Wine, True Crime Podcast and an Easy Dinner Helper

 

Hey Besties, I hope you had short week this week with the holiday. Things are really buzzing around here with sports and work in full swing. I was home alone with our sweet dog Stormy last weekend as he recovered from K9 flu/kennel cough and got a ton of things done in the house while the guys were at a hockey tournament in Rhode Island. I bundled up, waited for text updates of scores, cleaned out the clutter, hung pictures, had some friends over and watched way too much tv. Some of this hunkering down is turning into my Friday Favorites this week. 

This week as I link up with Erika and Andrea, I have two things for you to watch, a podcast I found that you will like if you are a true crime fan, a dinner shortcut for busy nights and a wine you can find at Trader Joe's to accompany any or all of these Friday Favorites. Snuggle up and enjoy Friday Favorites.

1. She Said

She Said is the story of the New York Times reporters that broke the Harvey Weinstein story. It is streaming exclusively on Peacock and was way Better than I thought it was going to be. I watched it more out of curiosity but became fascinated at how the whole story unfolded. It was not preachy as I feared it could be, it was a really Good tale of how true journalists can bring a story forward and change things for the Better. 

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Friday Favorites: Everyday Chardonnay, a Not So Perfect Hallmark Movie, Trader Joe's Harvest Salsa, The Watcher, and Little Moon Vital Vapor Balm

 

We made it to the weekend Besties and Halloween is upon us. This week felt like the hours flew by but that it took forever for Friday to

get here. Does that make any sense? Now that the weekend is finally here, it's time to put down the fun size candy taster while I link up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites.

On the list today is a Good everyday chardonnay, a not so perfect but perfect Hallmark movie, Trader Joe's Harvest Salsa, The Watcher, and Little Moon Vital Vapor Balm. This is definitely an eclectic list today. 

1. Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay

I may have written about this wine in the past, but this every day beauty deserves another mention.  Almost everyone who knows me knows that a Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region on New Zealand is my wine of choice. The more pop of grapefruit the Better. 

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Monthly Musings October 2022-Thanksgiving Prep

 

Gobble gobble Besties. Halloween is on Monday and that means next up is Thanksgiving. Holly and I are hosting Monthly Musings today and we are ready to share all the Best tips by the talented group of writers who join us. Grab your rolling pins, your turkey brine and the tv remote for your favorite football game because we are talking Thanksgiving Prep!

1. Do you host Thanksgiving or go elsewhere?

We do not host for Thanksgiving. Easter is our holiday we love to host. We did host Thanksgiving last year and just had Running Daddy's parents and I got catering from the Mount Vernon Inn.

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Monthly Musings October 2022 Topics-Thanksgiving Prep

 

Hey there Besties. I am just dropping by on Hello Monday with Holly and Sarah  to share the topics for Monthly Musings coming up this Thursday.

Holly and I will be hosting our monthly link up and since we are just around a month before Thanksgiving, we wanted to use Monthly Musings this month to share the Best tips and tricks. If you are in Canada and already celebrated Thanksgiving this month, we would love to have you join us and share your traditions as well.

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Hello Monday January 3, 2022-Your Favorite Posts of 2021

 

Happy New Year Besties! I for one am tiptoeing into 2022 and trying not to cause any trouble. I had intended for this post as a Friday Favorites last week but we made a little u-turn with our plans and went up to see my mom for the day on Friday. Today I am sharing the most popular posts of 2021. I mentioned last week that Good Better Best hit a big milestone in page reads in December that was a little mind blowing. This post is for everyone that stopped by Good Better Best in 2021 and I always think it is fun to look back at what people like to read. Shall we get to the list? Let's go!

5. Charcuterie Cups and Rose' Water Review

  

Remember in April when some people were vaxxed, others were not yet and we were all trying to still find ways to safely socialize? I came up with these individualized charcuterie cups and then also did a review on rose' water. These are still a Good way to entertain pandemic or not.

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Charcuterie Cups and Rose' Water Review

 

Ok, Besties, you are finally vaccinated and the weather is getting Better. You want to have friends over and hang out safely. The challenge...what do you serve that will be safe and yummy? My charcuterie cups that I brought to Wine Gal K's house the other night are exactly what you need. They are safe and flexible for any dietary needs. I am sharing these with you today and also a review later in the post of the new Rose' Water from Trader Joe's. Basically, this post is everything you need for safe entertaining over the next few months.

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Friday Favorites: Funny Doormat, Good Chardonnay, New Hallmark Movie, Best Joggers and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

 

Oh Besties, happy Friday. Whew, this week is continuing to challenge me and I did have a moment of COVID crying this week. Not a major meltdown, just moments of missing some people, but a Good night's sleep was finally had and that really helped reset the week. It's finally Friday and I am once again I am linking up with up with Erika, Andrea, Narci to share the things that have brought me Joy this week.  I am definitely finding Joy in the occasional cup of fancy coffee these days.

1) Bravo Doormat

My sister gave me this doormat for Christmas. It is not only funny, it's very accurate. We put this at our porch door and not the front door, as most people we know come in through the porch. Well, when we are not in a pandemic and people actually come to our house, people come in through the porch door. Hoping that people will be able to come and see this funny doormat soon. I wonder if I can get a Hallmark one for the front door?

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Hello Monday-Thanksgiving 2020

 

Happy Monday Besties! While Thanksgiving is going to look a little different in the Good Better Best household, I did want to link up with the lovely ladies at Hello Monday and share what our Thanksgiving will look like this year and some tips from Thanksgiving past. Pour a hot apple cider if you have it and join me for Thanksgiving 2020.

Thanksgiving 2020

While we typically gather as a family in Maryland, we are staying home this year. Not only to keep our family safe, but to keep the community safe. Our dinner this year will be the three of us and well Stormy, waiting for a bite to fall from the table.

We are picking up Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday afternoon from the beautiful Mount Vernon Inn. Yes, that Mount Vernon as in George Washington's house. We live right the road from the mansion and it just seemed fitting to get dinner from there this year.

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Already Better Chicken with Butternut Squash, Cranberries and Wild Rice Bake

 

While this recipe takes some prep work, it is so Good. Perfect for a chilly night when you have some time or a busy night when you can do some prep work earlier in the day and then finish the cooking process when you get home. Chicken, wild rice, butternut squash and cranberries give you all the fall feels with healthy ingredients. The wild rice gives you a whole grain so this recipe is already Better.

Ingredients

1 cup of wild rice blend

Chicken broth

4 Tbs olive oil (divided)

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs 

1/2 onion minced

1 small butternut squash (peeled and cubed) about 4 cups

Dash of kosher salt

Dash of black pepper

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup parmesan cheese divided

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Weekend Favorites: A Wedding Every Weekend, New Devotional , Trader Joe's Chardonnay, Masks, Skin Peel Pads

 

Well hello and happy Sunday Besties! It has been a few weeks since I have stopped by this site. We were on a very safe and very dreamy vacation last week that we all needed. We have been trying to get things done this month for school to start and that and some other things have been taking up my time and thoughts.

Our life has been such that while I wanted to post this piece on early Friday morning like I typically do and about 80% of this was already written, this needed to be something that I need time to finish and post on Sunday. Thanks to all of you who still stop by here.

Now I am back and linking up with Erika, Andrea, Narci to share the things that bring me Joy.

1) A Wedding Every Weekend on Hallmark

Oh what a delightful movie. I so love Kimberly Sustad, I think she is so beautiful, funny and a Good actress. This movie made me laugh out loud. There is a scene with some KT tape, Kimberly Sustad's character is a physical therapist, that had me laughing so hard and texting my friend who is a physical therapist.

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Friday Favorites: Best Trader Joe's Rose', Last Dance, Hair Salt Scrub, At Home Grey Hair Hack, Best Hand Soap Scent

Hey Besties! It's darn chilly around here but we made it to Friday. As we head into Mother's Day weekend,  I am linking up with Erika, Andrea, Narci to share what is bringing me Joy this week. 

1) Emma Reichart Rose' from Trader Joe's 

Seriously, this rose' is so Good. During my Safe at Home Birthday my sweet friend Dina brought me this bottle of wine. She said she really liked it and told me to tell her what I thought of it. Running Daddy and I opened it last weekend and thought it was so Good. It's light and crisp and even though Running Daddy is pretty indifferent on rose' he really liked this one. When I Googled it to see where we could buy another bottle, I was so pleasantly surprised to find out it was a Trader Joe's wine and at the Best price point. Apparently this is one of Trader Joe's value wines. Yes please! On my next trip to Trader Joe's I will be stocking up.  Hopefully they will have it in inventory.

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Friday Favorites: Good Chilean Wine, Cute Camo Bag, Resident Care Bags, Million Dollar Listing and the Best Whoopie Pies

Happy weekend Besties! I so love Easter weekend. Like a lot of us, our Easter is going to look a little different this year but we are going to make the Best of it. Our day will be live streaming of Mass and pick up Easter dinner but I do think I will add in my Get Dressed Challenge and dress for dinner. 

As I do most Fridays, I am linking up with Erika, Andrea, Narci to share what brings me Joy. 

1) Cono Sur Viognier

If you are looking for a wine that is a little different but at a Good price point, the Bicicleta Viognier from Cono Sur is an excellent choice.  I bought this at Wegman's a few weeks ago as a total impulse purchase and have bought several bottles since.

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Friday Favorites: Fall Scents, Chesapeake Shores, J Crew Tee, and Trader Joe's Chilean Wine

It felt like Friday would never get there this week. This week wasn't bad, it was just a little slow. Now that Friday is finally here, I am linking up with Erika, Andrea, Narci to share what is bringing me Joy this week. 

1) Mrs. Meyers Fall Scents

It was time for me to switch up my fall cleaning scents. In the summer I love the Lime and Sea Salt all purpose cleaner but I wanted something to help will fall here. I decided to try Grove and order some of the fall scents from Mrs. Meyers. I chose both the Acorn Spice and the Spiced Pumpkin scents for the kitchen and they just smell like fall. They have a warm scent but are not too overwhelming. Since I am trying to green up my cleaning, Grove and Mrs. Myers help keep it fun with fun scents that are not filled with chemicals.

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Hello Monday: Friday Night Fun, Trader Joe's Wine, and Fall Fashion

 Since I  was traveling last week and had a big work event, I missed Friday favorites. I decided to mix things up a bit and jump into Hello Monday and tell you a little bit about my weekend instead. I am linking up with Heather, Johannah, Tanya, and Linsdsay for their Hello Monday link party. Let's do this!

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Friday Favorites: Eyelet for Summer, RIP Grumpy Cat, Long Weekends, Best Barbecue Rub and Good Rose'

Well hello Memorial Day weekend. I don't know about you, but I am ready for the start of summer and a long weekend. As we kick off summer, I am linking up with Erika, Andrea, Narci for Friday Favorites and sharing what is bringing me Joy this week.

1) All Things Eyelet

I so love eyelet for summer and there are some really Good eyelet fashion options this year. I snagged two cute items on a really Good sale at J Crew Factory earlier this week and they arrived today. They will be perfect pieces for work and play this summer.

J Crew Factory Dress

Size Small

***Contains affiliate links

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