Friday, January 08, 2010

Friday's Fave Five #69


Hello everyone! How was the first week of the year? Did it start off with a bang or did you ease into it slowly? Can you remember five of your favorite things from the first week of the new decade? If you are just starting off with us, welcome. This a great exercise to start off the new year and then continue with, even on the harder weeks. To me it shows us that there really are good things, things we are blessed with, even in the midst of hardship, no matter how small they may be. And it shows us the big blessings of God in our lives too. Join in, if you need details or would just like to reread the guidelines, they are here.

So on we go.

1. Christmas packed away. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all the paraphenelia that goes with it. But when January hits, I am ready to have my home back to normal, such as it is. I'm very happy to report that all the packing away went smoothly and I was able to get it all done within a couple of afternoons. And I even managed to get tough with myself and put a couple of things into the give away box. Yipee.


2. Reader's Wrap. I love this thing. It's basically a loooong rectangle made of the softest fuzzy material and it goes over your shoulders like a big 'ole shawl. My sister gave it to me for Christmas and I have used it constantly while watching tv or sitting reading. Perfect for the cold nights and days we've been having. It has especially felt lovely the last couple of day's as I haven't felt too good and just couldn't shake feeling cold. Mine's like the picture except it's beige with a leopard print edging. So cozy. And no, the cute girl in the pic is not me.
3. Costco chicken pie. Oh my word, I love this stuff. It's full of big chunks of chicken and veggies. No trying to guess what that puny lump may be in the gravy. With Costco's everything is identifiable. LOL. And it tastes good. No preservative taste. Great for an easy meal along with a salad.
4. Spending my Chapters gift card. Chapters is our huge bookstore chain that has a Starbuck's corner. One of my dayhome kidlets blessed me with a gift certificate and I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours of having a coffee with a dear friend and then wandering the store with her chatting about all the books we were finding. It was hard to pick but I finally settled on the one I went for: The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. (I linked at amazon because I have no idea why it's not in Chapters online store). I'll be starting that as soon as I get through my library stack. I also had enough to get a sweet pack of blank note cards. I love me some nice stationary.
5. Fridays. Ah yes, I am so glad it is Friday. A week off is really great but oh that week going back to work is tough. And twice as hard when I'm not feeling the greatest. So I'm glad it's the end of the work week. That means a pretty easy going day in dayhome with a movie afternoon complete with lots of popcorn. Then it's relax time. Tomorrow I'm off with another friend to spend another gift certificate from my son, this time to Winner's which is like a T.J. Maxx. I think. I've never been to T.J. Maxx but the commercials make it look the same. LOL. Anyway, hopefully I'll score a really great deal there.
So what were your favorites for the week? If you've done a FFF post, please link onto Mr. Linky so that we can come and visit you.


33 comments:

Willow said...

I love my Fridays, too. It's my day off and I treasure it. I saw in your last post that you are decluttering! It's a great way to start the New Year.

Hazel said...

What a nice gift a reader's wrap is. Fave no. 4 is just awesome. Reading and sipping coffee wow! Those are just some of life's great plesures. I missed FFF last week but I think it's never too late to say happy new year!

Catherine said...

I love Costco prepared foods! I can no longer use the chicken pot pie because of my husband's celiac condition, but their rotisserie chicken is gluten free and wonderful!

Jientje said...

Even when you're a stay at home girl like me, Fridays are great. It means I get to look back at all the wonderful things that happened in the previous week. Yours was wonderful, well ... so was mine! It's good to be back on track!

Sandy@ Jesus and Dark Chocolate said...

Oh if you read my post you will see that I am also thankful for FRIDAY this week. :) I have been wondering about that Costco chicken pie, it looks so good every time I see it! :)
Your reader's wrap sounds so cozy! Nice!

Hope you are feeling better soon!!!
Happy Friday!

Barbara H. said...

I was kind of sad to put Christmas stuff away -- we didn't get it up until a little later this year. But after a couple of days, I was glad. I didn't even put all my regular stuff back out, and I am liking a little less cluttered look.

I had never heard of a reader's wrap, but it looks cozy!

That chicken pie sounds great!

Gift cards are so fun to use. I have seen that book mentioned on a lot of blogs.

I love Fridays, too.

ellen b said...

Yippee for Fridays! I'm glad you can snuggle with that soft readers shawl. I love browsing through bookstores and when you have free money to spend that's the best! Enjoy...

elizabeth said...

Few things nicer than a book store/coffee shop with a friend. One of the knitting groups I'm a part of meets at a similar thing every Tuesday night. So nice to play with friends! :)

Melli said...

You and I (and I suspect several others) have the same thing for #1 today! It DOES feel good, doesn't it?!

I LOVE going into Borders or Barnes & Noble and having coffee and perusing books... that makes for a great day! Alone OR with a friend!

I am simply AMAZED at the variety of "specialty" throw blankets that are on the market these days! I would have NEVER thought there was a special one for READING! hehehe... I'm glad you're enjoying yours though! :)

Karen said...

I need to try that chicken pot pie.

I love your list. You and I would have a great time shopping together -- bookstores, "TJ Maxx", stationery. My favorite things.

Enjoy your weekend, Susanne!

nikkipolani said...

Hope you are feeling 100% soon, Susanne. Getting back to the routine can be tough when you'd rather curl up with your wrap and a book. I should've included packing Christmas away as a fav, too.

Stephani Cochran said...

I love the reader's wrap. I might have to try to find myself one. Thanks again for hosting. Have a great week!

Val said...

Sounds like you had a great week. I will be linking to Mr. Linky later on when I do a post on my blog. I hope you have a blessed day.

Brenda said...

Your week sounds a lot like mine, putting away decorations and getting back to normal.

That readers wrap looks wonderful, maybe I need something like that :) The snuggies are too much work for me to get in and out of.

Baba said...

Hi Susanne, I love your cozy wrap to keep warm and read a book or do your blogging..I did your FFF today..thanks for being our host...
Hugs, Baba

Lisa notes... said...

I felt so good packing up Christmas, too. Always a big job. Your Readers' Wrap looks great. I got a Snuggie for Christmas and have been enjoying it. That chicken pot pie sounds delicious.

Kari said...

Oh I love Friday's too. Sorry that you aren't feeling too well.
I miss Costco and their chicken pot pies - they are great.
Happy Weekend!

Carrie said...

I hope you get to feeling better soon.

ALRIGHT! I'm so glad you picked up The Silent Gift. And now I hope you love it. =)

I, too, love Christmas but I have to admit that it WAS rather nice to pack it all away. I put some stuff in the Goodwill pile as well and consolidated a little. I feel like this year I figured out more what I want our house to look like and so I was able to let go of some things that were not a good fit.

Thanks always for hosting this! It's a good thing for me to think through at the end of the week!

Robin Lambright said...

Fridays are good, today is a snow day for us here in the south, a rarity. The schools are closed so the DD and a friend are upstairs listening to CD's and playing wii.

I hope the hot cocoa and microwave pop corn hold out until our 1/8 of and inch snow blows away (LOL)

Blessings
Robin

Faith said...

I love Fridays, too!! especially the evenings!! nice wrap! and sipping coffee....you know how that is always MY fave!! along with a good book.
my list is up....enjoy the weekend

Unknown said...

Hope you are feeling better soon! That reader's wrap looks so inviting! Have fun shopping!

Robin Lambright said...

I was inspired reading all your fav's today and since I didn't have anything pressing, yea for me I jumped in with my friday fav five only it really is my fav one.

Blessings
Robin

Islandsparrow said...

Hi Suzanne - Well I'm still in visiting mode since my old laptop died. But! I happen to be typing on my new right now and as soon as I get all my files restored I'll be up and ready to go.
The chicken pot pie sounds so good. Sometimes I wish we had a Costco here on the Island - but I guess it would have been really best when all my teenage boys were eating me out of house and home.
Your wrap looks so cozy - I hope you're able to find time this weekend to curl up and get rid of that cold.
I'll be back next week, Lord willing!

Karyn said...

Hope you are feeling better, Susanne!

I still haven't done the De-Christmasifying. (LOL) I am never in a real hurry to take it down - although I admit, I am more anxious this year to get things back to 'normal'.

Good for you on putting some things in the give away box.

The readers wrap seems to be a perfect gift for you!

Marg said...

Gift certificates are the best...And I'm glad that you got to pack away all your Christmas belongings. I finished that yesterday.
For I moment I thought that was a photo of you...I'm sure it's way better. Looks very comforting.

Donnetta said...

I also got Christmas stuff put away but have yet to get my other stuff back out. One thing at a time...

I was also so grateful today was Friday! Some weeks it just seems to be more of a relief than others.

Get to feeling better!

TXDidi said...

Stationery and bookstores. It doesn't get much better than that, unless you throw in a yarn shop and a fabric store. Sounds like you had a good week. Stay warm.

Much Ado said...

I am totally with you in the packing Christmas away thing. I love Christmas but always like to get my decorations down before the new Year. Happy new year to you! :)

Lisa Spence said...

Oooooh, a reader's wrap! Looks cozy! And now I'm wishing we had a Costco nearby; that chicken pie sounds YUMMY!

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

I still have a Barnes and Noble gift card to use up. Can't wait!

Thanks for hosting FFF. Hope you're feeling better.

I joined in again this week!

Linda said...

I always enjoy reading your Fave Five.
The wrap is just perfect. It is freezing here in South Texas, and I think it would be perfect for my evenings on the sofa!
Have a restful weekend and feel better soon.

Val said...

I love this FFF. It makes me stop and think of the past week and what I have to be thankful for. Thank you for hosting. I am not sure about the linking back to that exact post though. I hope I am doing it right.

Sis said...

Slowly working my way through the list, LOL. My desktop is on the blink and this laptop just isn't as easy to maneuver...

I'm loving reading your fff's! And participating too. And I also love my Fridays!