The Friday Five

Good morning; happy Friday! I have a fixation with my weather app. I know the extended forecast is fickle and yet I can’t stop myself from checking it multiple times a day. I think it’s the planning side of me that loves to picture what those days will look like. For example: today: sunny, clear, and in the high 60’s. A perfect day for our apple picking trip with friends!

But then… dun dun duuuuhhh… temps drop and rain moves in early next week. Monday looks especially cold and rainy so I’m already thinking up what I want to cook, read, and plan. A homeschool day with a cozy breakfast, hot tea, Hobbit reading, puzzles, and candles? Magical!

Am I alone in this fixation? Did I miss my calling as a meteorologist? I may never know, but the joy I get from obsessively checking the weather app is sincere. Ok, I’ve shared enough about this odd obsession, let’s move on and talk about this Friday’s FIVE!

ONE: Amazon Top Sellers- Surprise Edition!

I know I’ve mentioned before how happy I am to be making review videos on my Amazon storefront because it’s opened up another stream of revenue for me, but one that is also helpful for others. I often watch the review videos before purchasing a product, especially if it’s a pricier one.

Well, David joined in on the fun, making review videos he finds helpful for some of the more home/handy items he’s bought since we moved in. I don’t know what it is, but his videos are a hit (maybe because there are less men out there giving helpful tool review than woman talking about a new kitchen gadget or a shirt?). His “handy husband” favorites are slowly taking over the top spots on my analytics- take a look at this week’s top sellers:

EGO Power Trimmer – probably his most used yard tool, it has multiple attachments and is light weight; perfect for trimming, tilling, and more
Emporia Home Energy Monitor – he hooked this thing up to our circuit panel to monitor our energy usage in real time. He says “it’s very cool.”
Stick on Bats – hey! Finally one of mine! Best bang for your Halloween buck out there.
Bread Machine – so excited for whoever has welcomed this machine into their kitchen. One of my favorite small appliances: pizza dough, dinner rolls, cinnamon bread, and more!
Dewalt 4 Gallon Sprayer – David says: Pump Sprayers Suck. This one, you put on your back, walk away and spray, and you’re done. No having to stock to pump every 10 seconds.
How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teenage Girls – I read a chapter to my girls once a week and we discuss and practice strategies. Helpful!
Source Naturals Wellness Pills – if I could only have one supplement in my germ season arsenal, this would be it. I know prices change often but at the time I’m writing this, these are on sale for 40% off with a 10% clickable coupon, which is a GREAT deal! Remember, take the recommended amount and they will work.
Cordless LED Lamp with Dimmer – the perfect soft glow for early mornings and evenings. 48 hours of glow time before needing to be recharged. Perfect for my powder room.
Keyboard Piano – the most important thing to check is that is has weighted keys for that real piano play feel.
Thermos – stainless steel with easy carry handle lid, the girls have been taking warm lunches to co-op and love these. Great for soup, spaghetti and meatballs, ramen, mac and cheese, and more.

TWO: Keratin Hair Treatment

I don’t know what took me so long to try this, but I had a keratin hair treatment done last week at the encouraging of my new stylist that told me my porous, thick, slightly frizzy, inconstantly wavy hair would like benefit greatly from the service. She said it nicely.

A keratin treatment is a professional hair treatment that aims to improve hair texture, reduce frizz, and add shine. It involves applying a solution containing keratin, a protein naturally found in hair, to the hair and then sealing it in with heat. It took about 2 hours and cost $350.

The first 48 hours after treatment you can’t touch your hair; it just has to hang there. I’ve washed and dried it myself once myself since then and my take: it did dry a little faster, but not blow my mind faster. I’ll let it air dry first more next time. However, it did blow out smoother and my tight curl pattern at the back of my head is straighter. It is shinier, too. I got several messages on IG that said it even gets better with time and people swear by it (twice a year is what I’ve heard from most). Overall, I am pleased!

THREE: Fall Clothes

The cooler weather has me so happy to pull out some light sweaters and long sleeve shirts. This lighter weight large stripe sweater and this blue green plaid are two of my current favorites. I also really love the loose jean (wide leg?) trend because it’s so comfortable.

One thing I’m curious about though- what shoes are y’all wearing? I have cute sneakers and I have some boot options, but what is the right choice for something in between. A clog? A mule? A flat? If you have a pair of casual but pulled together shoes you love, please tell me in the comments- links very encouraged!

FOUR: Home Decor Philosophy

I accomplished something HUGE this week: I put photos in my frames!! I bought these beautiful shadowbox frames months ago and they’ve been hanging, unfilled, on my walls ever since. I just was waiting for the time to comb through every picture I’ve ever took to select the perfect ones. Finally, I got sick of it and told myself to just print some pictures (I used Mpix and am very pleased with the quality), fill the frames, and I could change them out anytime I wanted to. I printed 7, the girls chose these 4, and we LOVE it. Instant personalization.

I have a friend whose style I absolutely adore (Hi, Janna!) and she has to basically beat this into my head repeatedly: Choose what you like and your home will reflect you and you will love it. It’s so true and yet for some reason it’s so hard for me because I get hung up on picking the “right” thing. I’m beginning to embrace this mantra and the fact that it is, and should be, a slow process, building in layers. The pictures were a big win for me this week and I’m riding high from it.

FIVE: Three Things I’ve Eaten Lately

What have you been cooking and enjoying? I need some fresh ideas, but to add a little input to the conversation, here are three things I’ve made and enjoyed lately: a snack, a treat, and a meal.