5 Friday Favorites: June 8, 2018

Happy Friday, Friends. 

It's time for my Friday link up with A Little Bit of Everything, Grace and Love, and Momfessionals. 

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick! Here are some of my favorite things from this week.

1. Flags of Valor

We celebrated Steve's 50th birthday this week and for the first time that I can remember I got him a gift I was really excited to give him. Flags of Valor is a company in my area that employs combat veterans to create these amazingly beautiful wooden flags. They come in a few different sizes and they are all just breathtaking. I was able to go to the facility to choose mine because it's here in Northern Virginia. We can't wait to hang this on our porch.

2. What a Beautiful Name

We've been hearing a lot of words that strike fear in our hearts lately - cancer, tumor, death, hospice, chemo, divorce - the list is endless lately. I keep trying to remember that words like these have no real power, but it's hard. I can't even count how many times I've heard this song, but it was just this week that I downloaded it to my phone and really listened closely to the words.

Death could not hold you, the veil tore before you, you silenced the boast of sin and grave,

The heavens are roaring, the praise of your glory, for you are raised to life again

You have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever our God reigns

Yours is the glory, yours is the kingdom, you are the name above all names

There is no power in words, but there is power in one name. I'm trying hard to hold to that name and release the hold the other words try to have on me. What a beautiful rendition of this song by Travis Cottrell and his daughter, Lily. And indeed what a beautiful, wonderful, powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. Turn it up loud, friends.

3. Father's Day Ideas

Father's Day is just over a week away. I've got some ideas for you. 

A few years ago I randomly received a catalog in the mail from Uncommon Goods. They have some really unique and fun gifts, especially for dads. I thought this Pistachio Pedestal was really cute especially because my people love pistachio nuts.

For some reason, I've become quite a klutz lately and just last week, I think I broke three glasses. This is a problem I'd rather not think about. I'd rather just buy new cute glasses. This set of four Record Breaking Glasses is perfect for all the dads in my life. Shhh. Don't tell.

All the dads in my life are big golfers. I was as disappointed and shocked by Tiger Woods fall from grace as I could be. The illusion that he was a hero with a perfect life is one that we often create in our heads for icons of sports. I think the new Tiger Woods  book would be a fascinating read for anyone who has followed his career.

Steve actually bought this ION Pathfinder II Rugged Bluetooth Portable Speaker for his own self for his birthday the other day because that's the silver lining of being 50 years old. You do what you want. The sound quality is awesome and it's water resistant and has "telescoping wheels" which sounds super cool, but basically means if you're old, you don't have to lift it up. To off-set that they used the word "rugged" in the details at least twice and what man doesn't want something described as rugged? Also, it has a microphone in case your 13 year old wants to sing Sweet Home Alabama for the entire neighborhood. Not that I would know anything about that.

There is no doubt that any dad would love a wooden flag from Flags of Valor. If you are in the area, I highly recommend you visit the shop. I can't stop staring at ours.

4. My Two New Favorite Mascaras (for today)

That was obviously too much talk about "man" things, so I really have no choice but to include a beauty product on the 5 Friday Favorites List this week. My friend from high school, Mindye, suggested this It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara. Mindye is smart and beautiful and even though I didn't think I needed elastic or stretch in a mascara, what do I know? I like this mascara a whole lot. It's really great, if not a bit pricey.

If you don't want to spend that much, I also really like L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Feline Washable Mascara. Again, why so many words, Beauty Product Naming People? Calm down. Whatever the name, this is is a great mascara for a great price.

5. Taking a Seat on the Bandwagon #ALLCAPS

I watched the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup finals last night like it was my job. I cheered and gasped and panicked and got all teary eyed when Ovechkin hoisted the cup over his head. I acted like TJ Oshie was my very own son and pretended like I knew what "icing" meant. At one point I yelled "He's in the crease!" because once I heard somebody say that at a hockey game. I threw all reason out the window and kinda wanted them to draw blood when the fights broke out. 

Here's a secret. 99% of the time I can't see the puck. It is a stone cold miracle if I actually see it go into the net in real time. I simply wait to hear the horn and throw my arms up in the air as if I knew it all along. The people in my adopted hometown of DC have been waiting for this moment their entire lives. I've been waiting for this moment since maybe last week. Whatever, man. I'll take part in the joy and I will own my status as a an All Star Bandwagoner. C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!!!

BONUS FAVORITE 

I will never be accused of being a bandwagon fan for our Freedom Varsity baseball team. If you might throw up a prayer for our hard fighting boys who are on their way to the state semi-finals in today, I'd so appreciate it. The Lovely and Talented Mrs. C. and I are packing up the car with our Freedom Itunes list so that we can listen to Beyonce, Aretha, George Michael and any other musician who ever sang a song with the word "freedom" in it and headed down to Richmond to cross our fingers and toes and use all of our jedi mind tricks to help our boys bring the W. As I've mentioned many times over the last few weeks, life has been difficult lately. Lots of bad news and things we can't control keep coming at us. One of things the good Lord has given me specifically to bring me peace is the game of baseball. Win or lose, I will sit in those bleachers today in the sunshine with my best girls and I will watch every last pitch and it will be joy and laughter and a heckuva a lot of fun. Let's play ball, boys. I'm feeling a victory.

Happy Weekend!

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