5 Friday Favorites: April 12, 2019

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. 

1. Spring, Spring, Spring!!!

I would be really dumb to imagine that we are actually done with winter around here. I've seen this movie before in my 20 plus years in Northern Virginia and I know how it goes. We'll get a tease here or there and then the temperatures will plummet and we're back to boots, scarves, and gloves. Still, I was so happy to see a few signs of spring this week. For me, it can be hard to see hope in the grey of winter and the season can make me turn inward and sad. I know this about myself and whether it is chemical or environmental or whatever, it is true that I have to work really hard during the winter months to remind myself that just as the sun still exists on the cloudy, dismal day, so also does the love and hope and light that I find in my God. I've been reading in Isaiah quite a bit lately and the verses from chapter 58 really resonated with me as I walked out this week and found God feeling so near in the blue skies, the blooming trees, and even in the renewed promise of hits and runs and victories on the baseball diamond. Welcome, Spring. Relieve us, restore us, renew us, and remind us again that He has never ever left. 

Then your light will break through like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear,

Then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call and the Lord will answer,

You will call for help, and He will say,

"Here am I."

Isaiah 58:8-9a

2. The Best Facial I Have Ever Had

If you've read here long enough you know that I'm a giant fan of facials, massages, pedicures, manicures and any other beauty/relaxation treatment you can throw at me. I've gotten some amazing massages and facials from Massage Envy and that is still my go-to when I want a massage. Recently, however, at a charity auction I bid on a gift certificate to Salon Khouri, a salon that recently opened a location only minutes away from me. I quickly scheduled an appointment for a facial with Judy and honestly, I cannot tell you if I've had a better facial in my entire life. Judy was amazing and a great majority of the hour included an upper and lower body massage. If you are in my area, I could not recommend Judy highly enough. She was so sweet to give me four $10 off coupons, so if you're local contact me at jlpskinner@gmail.com and I'd be happy to get one to you so you can make an appointment. Also, tell Judy I referred you!

3. Key Lime Cheesecake

My sister-in-law makes amazing and creative desserts for every holiday and she made a Key Lime Cheesecake years and years ago for Easter. It remains one of my favorite spring desserts. I'm not sure this is the correct recipe, but it seems pretty close.

Cheesecake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

3 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened

3 large eggs

1 8 oz. sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime rind

1/2 cup Key lime juice

Strawberry Sauce

1 1/4 cup fresh strawberries

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime

Process all ingredients in food processor, stopping to scrape down sides, until smooth.

Stir together first 3 ingredients and firmly press on bottom, and 1 inch up sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream, rind, and juice. Pour batter into crust.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Turn off oven. Partially open oven door and let stand 15 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately run a knife around the edge of pan, releasing from sides.

Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill for 8 hours. Serve with strawberry sauce.

4. Spring Break Reading 

Spring break is next week for us and this always makes me want to stock up on good, compelling reading. Even when I'm not hitting the beach or a vacation spot, the week before Easter is a great time take a minute or many minutes for myself, leave some tasks unfinished and sit on the porch or couch - or even in the bleachers of a baseball game that seems to be in the 43rd inning, with a good book. These are some on my list this week.

I heard this book described recently as a memoir along the lines of Educated. Sign me up. Educated was by far the best book I read last year, so I sent North of Normal to my mom for her birthday and she loved it.

I've seen Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine on Best Seller lists a zillion times. This week I went to Target and somehow it found its way into my shopping cart along with seven other things I wasn't aware I needed. Dang it.  

5. March Madness & Coach Tony Bennett (insert all the heart eye emojis)

As the NCAA basketball tournament started out this year, I was all set, as I usually am when Texas doesn't make the cut, not to care one whit about who was playing or who was winning or who had a compelling back story because I am nothing if not full of bitterness and resentment when my team isn't good. But as usual, I got sucked in again this year by some spectacular games, amazing athletic performances, inspiring comebacks, and one very handsome and faithful head coach. (Alert to my husband and sons: my crush on UVA's Tony Bennett has reached an embarrassing level.) One minute I'm barely watching a game and the next minute I'm 5 inches from the TV praying for Carson Edwards as if I gave birth to him even though literally 10 minutes ago I couldn't have told you where Purdue University is located. I'm still not sure. One of the "I" states? Either way, WHAT A TOURNAMENT. Oh my word, I love basketball. Congrats to my UVA, buddies. Redemption sure is sweet, is it not?

Well that's it for this week, Friends. I wish you a blessed Holy Week, a restful Spring Break if that's in your future, and a lovely Easter day! Happy Spring!

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