5 Friday Favorites: February 11, 2022

It's time for my Friday link up with  A Little Bit of Everything 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.

Hey, People! I gotta be quick because we're traveling to Knoxville to visit the middle man and see some family and watch some hoops and eat all the things. This weekend will definitely be my favorite part of the week, but here are some other favorites. 

1. The Oprah Conversation with Will Smith

Two weeks in a row with a Will Smith favorite. This Oprah interview with Will Smith on Apple TV is really great. He's got some very interesting insights on his career and on life, in general. My favorite was his story about laying bricks. Check it out. It will have you thinking and if you're like me, clicking "Add to Cart" on his book, Will.

2. Meal Planning & this Grocery List Notepad

Y'all. The fact that this is one of my favorite things for the week seems kinda sad. Last week, underwear. This week, a notepad. Look for me on the next Progressive commercial. 

Whatever, man. It's true. These are two of my very favorite things from this week. I mentioned my new love of Meal Planning and what I learned from Emily Ley on a podcast back in August. And while I don't do it every week, when I do, it makes such a huge difference in my peace and calm during the week. I'm pretty sure it also saves us money at the grocery store. 

This grocery list that my sister sent to me also saves me money and time. It's divided into the different sections of the grocery store and keeps you from going back and forth for things you forgot.  The one I have is out of stock, but this is a similar one. Could you use a basic sheet of notebook paper and make the sections yourself? Why, yes, you could. But maybe Ma Maw doesn't have time for that because she's got to get back home to watch As the World Turns. Geez.

3. Instant Pot Carnitas

Speaking of meals, my sister also sent me this recipe for Instant Pot Carnitas which we had last night and they were amazing. My guys LOVED them.

4. Bucky 40 Blinks Eye Mask

Number 1: this is the best product naming I've ever come across. Number 2: I spend so much time writing on my computer and staring at that darn phone that my eyes are killing me by the time I go to bed. Number 3: I cannot sleep if there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room. So I'm thinking of ordering this eye mask because maybe this is the answer to my eye woes. Either that or maybe I should stop watching Instagram videos of the Texas Longhorns beating Kansas in basketball 75 times in a row? Nah.

5. Headin' to Knoxville

Dear Mama of a Little Boy who clings to your hand and doesn't give you a minute alone:

Someday he will move away and grow up to be braver than you imagined. Remember that time he cried and had to be pried off of your leg to go to 2nd grade? And you thought he would never be able to live without you? You were mistaken. You will find that these scenarios that you tend to create in your tired mama brain do not actually occur in real life 99.99% of the time - so far at least. 

Anyway, one day after he leaves and moves away, you will wake up early one morning on the day you get to go visit him and send him a photo in which you legitimitely look insane (or perhaps like you've snorted enormous amounts of cocaine.)

And you'll dress up in Spirit Wear that is not even your own college. It will be completely the wrong color orange - a disgrace, in fact, to your people. But you'll do it anyway because you can't help it. You'll be so excited that you will text him: "Mom is on her way, Buddy! And she's bringing groceries and Valentine's gifts!" 

And you'll wait in great anticipation for the text which is surely on it's way back to you which will definitely say something like: "MOM! You are the best ever and I love you so much and I'm counting the minutes until you get here so we can talk for hours and hours and I will tell you all the things about friends and girls and classes and all my deep thoughts on life."

Either that or then you'll remember that the text won't come for hours and it will say: "K"

A Bonus Favorite: Bringing a Word

I was honored that the lovely, welcoming, small, but mighty congregation at Aldie Methodist Church invited me back to speak Sunday morning. You can listen to my words on "Approaching the Throne with Confidence" here. And also notice that I almost forget how many kids I have.

Y'all have the best weekend!  

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