The Weekender

Throwback to the August 2017 trip to Los Angeles with Swiffer.

Happy hellos from my little corner of the Ozarks!

This week was pretty much the perfect recipe for a Weekender. Ha! Let’s go.

Miscellany:

1. From My Nightstand

I finally finished The Wedding People.

I’m going to be completely honest: it started really, really slow for me. There were several times when I wondered if I was going to stick with it.

But I’m glad I did.

By the end, I really enjoyed it. There were several perspectives and observations about life, relationships, and people that I thought were beautifully written and surprisingly thought-provoking.

So overall, I would recommend it — just know that, in my humble opinion, you may have to give it a little time to get going.

I’ve now started The Last Mrs. Parrish, so we’ll see where that one takes me.

2. A Little Hello from Buster Brown

Earlier this week, the prettiest black swallowtail butterfly spent some time fluttering around our dining room windows.

Of course, my mind immediately went to our sweet Buster Brown.

It’s amazing how something so simple can stop you in your tracks and bring back a flood of memories. I stood there watching it for a bit and couldn’t help but smile.

And for a moment, I thought maybe Buster Brown was just stopping by to say hello. ❤️

3. A Handy Kitchen Tip I Had to Share

Speaking of the kitchen, I stumbled across an article this week about getting rid of those lingering cooking smells that sometimes seem determined to take up permanent residence in your house.

You know the ones.

You cook something delicious for dinner, and six hours later you’re wondering why your living room still smells like onions.

The article shares a simple trick using water and white vinegar simmered on the stove to help neutralize those lingering odors.

I love a simple household tip that doesn’t require buying another product, so I tucked this one away for future use.

Read the kitchen odor tip here.

4. A Very Unexpected Walk Down Memory Lane

I recently spotted the cutest little bear coffee mug on Amazon.

And suddenly I was thinking about Boyds Bears.

Do you remember those?

I used to collect them when I was younger, and I absolutely loved them. Honestly, I’ve always had a soft spot for teddy bears. I’m not sure if it’s the comfort factor, the cuteness factor, or a little bit of both, but they’ve always made me smile.

Isn’t it funny how one completely random thing can send you down memory lane?

One minute you’re looking at a coffee mug, and the next you’re remembering collections, seasons of life, and things you hadn’t thought about in years.

I’ll link the adorable little mug here because apparently my nostalgic teddy-bear-loving heart still has very strong opinions. Ha!

5. Meanwhile, at the Rowe House…

Last Sunday night, Steve and I were watching The Great Food Truck Race when suddenly we heard a noise from the kitchen.

It sounded exactly like ice dropping into the freezer.

Which would have been quite the miracle considering our ice maker hasn’t worked in a couple of years.

Naturally, we both looked at each other like, What the heck was that?

Steve went over and investigated the refrigerator, freezer, and even the pantry but couldn’t find anything.

Mystery unsolved.

Until a little while later when I went to put something in the refrigerator and spotted something suspicious.

Ice.

Turns out a High Noon had frozen in the back of the refrigerator and exploded.

So there you have it.

Apparently, we no longer need an ice maker. The refrigerator is just making its own entertainment now.

Never a dull moment around here. 😂

6. In Case You Missed It: Air Fryer Roasted Garlic

Earlier this week, I shared my Air Fryer Roasted Garlic.

If you love roasted garlic but don’t necessarily love waiting nearly an hour for it to roast in the oven, this is such an easy little kitchen trick.

The air fryer gets those cloves soft, buttery, and perfectly spreadable in about 15 minutes.

If you missed it earlier this week, be sure to give it a read. It’s definitely one of those why didn’t I try this sooner? kitchen staples.

7. A Little Bath & Body Works Happiness

Bath & Body Works has some NEW portable travel-friendly size hand sanitizers, and I am obsessed.

They’re smaller, flatter, and just seem so much easier to tuck into a purse, car, travel bag, or even a little gift.

And speaking of gifts, I immediately thought these would make the cutest little stocking stuffers or an easy extra to add to a gift basket or package.

The first one I purchased was the Champagne Apple & Honey. Smells great!

And while we’re talking Bath & Body Works…

Fall scents are making their return, which makes me ridiculously happy.

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin is probably one of my all-time favorite fall scents, but I was especially excited to see the single wick Apple Toddy candle back again.

I love that one.

Naturally, I stocked up on a couple because apparently I have no self-control when fall scents start showing up. Ha!

These would make great little gifts too — or, you know, gifts for yourself. No judgment here.

8. High School Me Would Be Thrilled

If you were in high school in the late ’80s or early ’90s, you might remember Esprit clothing. The clothing was very popular — and when I saw that Costco had brought them back, I about lost my mind. Talk about a blast from the past!

Apparently, everyone else felt the same way because they sold out before I could snag one. The nerve. 😂 Thankfully, Poshmark to the rescue! I found one there and, yes, I bought it. I mean… how could I not? A little piece of my high school wardrobe is officially making a comeback.

Did you happen to score one at Costco? And more importantly… did you wear ESPRIT back in the day too? If you missed out on the Costco drop like I did, you can check them out here.

9. On the Subject of What I Watched — or What I’m Watching

Apparently, I’ve been spending some quality time with my television lately. Ha!

First up, Sharper on Apple TV+. It’s a thriller movie from a few years ago, and Steve and I really enjoyed it. It’s one of those movies where you’re continually trying to figure out exactly who you can trust and what’s really going on. Definitely worth a watch if you like something with a few twists and turns.

Reacher is back on Amazon Prime, too! Season four recently kicked off with a few episodes, and I’m on the fence with this season. There is a lot of fighting and violence. It feels like 75% fighting and 25% talking. We’ll see how it plays out.

And then there’s Lioness on Paramount+. Oh my goodness. This is probably my absolute favorite of the bunch. I just think it’s such a good series — intense, well done, and one of those shows that keeps me completely invested.

So, if you’ve been looking for something new to watch, there are a few ideas for you.

And please tell me what you’re watching lately because I’m always looking for another good series.

Around the Web:

This Cranberry Honey Butter.

This French Toast Bake is great for a make ahead breakfast.

These savory Zucchini Cheddar Scones.

This Skinny Pumpkin Whip is sooooo good!

These Cheap Backsplash Ideas.

How cute is this small tote?

These Apple Mason Jars are great for a Back to School gift!

Loving these DIY Clipboards.

This Wood House Tutorial (great for a housewarming gift).

Where are my Gilmore Girls fans? This Stars Hollow candle that smells like coffee.

One Last Hoorah:

Some of the very best days are the ones when nothing big happens.

No exciting plans. No big accomplishments. No major milestones.

Just a quiet morning, a good cup of coffee, a little sunshine, maybe a walk or a bike ride, and time with the people you love.

Those ordinary days can be easy to overlook, but they’re often the ones that fill our hearts the most.

Maybe we don’t always need more excitement, more plans, or more things to check off the list. Maybe sometimes the sweetest thing we can do is simply notice how good life already is.