5 Friday Favorites: August 5, 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.

Good morning and welcome to Friday Favorites: Residence Inn, Holtsville, New York edition. Did you know that Holtsville, NY is the home of Groundhog Day? That's what the sign says. I'm not sure what that means. The actual groundhog, as in the small rodent-like animal or the movie with Bill Murray? Alas, I did not investigate, so this will remain a mystery. 

I'm so ready to go home. 

This is how I know. I'm so tired and emotionally drained from all the summer baseball stress (pause to acknowledge that this is the most absurd thing to say - such a First World problem) that when Alana from Queens guessed the bonus round puzzle on Wheel of Fortune last night and won a car I literally got a huge lump in my throat and started to cry because sometimes dreams come true.

I am not exaggerating even one bit. 

Oh, and she solved the puzzle with "Playful Giant Pandas", if you must know.

It was just too much for me.

Here are some favorite things from the week. I will not include Alana from Queens even though she was a delight and also rest assured, I will not include the fact that ever since Covid it seems that hotels don't really care that much about cleaning your room anymore. Even before you arrive.

 Carry on, weary travelers. Here's the list this week.

1. Where the Crawdads Sing

The baseball schedule allowed for a long afternoon and evening of free time here on Long Island. A  quick search of fun things to do in this particular area listed the movie theater as the #1 choice. It was also grey and drizzling all day, so we went to see Where the Crawdads Sing based on the book I read a few years ago. We loved it. It was very true to the book. I thought the acting was really good and the boys were shocked at the end which I think means the screenwriters nailed it.

2. Tyler Co. Diva Air Freshener

I've mentioned the Diva laundry detergent before, but my sister recently sent me these car air fresheners. They are quite strong, but are perfect on day 3 in room 316 at the Residence Inn. Or when someone takes off his cleats in the car. What I'm saying is that perhaps, like Queen Esther, they were made for such a time as this.

3. Kelly Corrigan's For the Good of the Order on The Power of Word Choice

I do not miss a single Kelly Corrigan podcast. EVER. This is a very quick episode on the power of word choice and to be honest with you I'm too tired to remember exactly why I loved this so much. I just know that it was really interesting.

4. A Cheap College Apartment Desk

This is random, but so many people are getting ready to take their kids to (or back to) college. Dorm shopping is stressful, but you're limited to the furniture they provide so you just get what you get. We're now on a quest for cheap furniture that will withstand a college boy apartment. This desk is more girly than my boy would like, but I thought this was really cute and a great deal. Good reviews too. So if you have a girl who is moving into an apartment it might be a good option.

5. This Guy, His Brother, and Grace

The kid. He's a delight most of the time. Thank God because it's been the Drew and Mama Show quite often this summer. His oldest brother ain't too bad either. Blessedly, Joe joined us for the NY trip this week and he was a such a gift - making us laugh until we choked on our road trip snacks, sharing the driving, and managing the music playlists. We had a great time together. 

I cannot get over how much I enjoy my adult and almost-adult kids when they're together. They are different in so many ways, but they fit together just as I prayed they would. Drew talks in his sleep and it's super weird. Joe could sleep through a hurricane and not have a clue. They both are wickedly funny. When the day didn't go so great for one, the other one just started talking about who the Red Sox traded and how the Celtics are going to do next year. I just get to sit there and listen and not worry about what new motivational pep talk I should or shouldn't give. 

They're also pretty sweet and protective of their mama. I hate driving in tunnels because I'm super claustrophobic, so instead of just telling me to get over it,  Joe pours over Google maps to find out which way we can go to avoid them. A month or so ago, we had to drive through a relatively short one, so Drew just sang the whole time and then when we got through, he patted my shoulder and said, "Good job, Bear. You did it." (I finally figured out that this name he has for me is short for "Mama Bear" *sigh*) 

Recently, my friend, Lindsay, who lost her daughter to cancer, posted "Some people are so blessed. I wonder if they know and hope very much that they do."

I wrote it in my journal this morning. Sometimes I forget. But sometimes I am blindsided by the blessings. And often times it is a word from my friends in the pediatric cancer community that serves to smack me over the head, take me by the shoulders and shake me into understanding that every single moment with them is a grace I did not earn and that I cannot count on forever. 

And also, by the way, both of those fools and their other brother can be huge pains in my rear end. And that's still grace.

That's all for now. The five of us are actually going to have a baseball-free weekend all together before the big boys head back to work and school. There will be multiple frozen drinks, reading, and naps by the pool. Have a great weekend, Friends!

Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com. Post might contain other affiliate links as well.