Friday Favorites

·
No need to beat around the bush today….let’s get right to my favorites from the week!
If you love finding fun service projects you can do as a family, you must head over to my friend Holly’s blog and read all about her Summer of Service weekly service challenge.  This girl truly has a heart for service and is always looking for little ways she can bring joy to others.   
When I saw this week was about serving those who serve others I  immediately decided to request some assistance from those in my office and put some goodies together for the University Police Department.  My coworker Tracy and I grabbed some snack type items as I figured the officers would be able to grab a few snacks to go before heading out on their shift.  My boss made a huge tray of homemade cookies which I’m sure will be gone in a matter of minutes.  
Serving the community

 Carly’s friend Holden came over and they made a few thank you cards to include.  My sad little chocolate chip cookies…not sure what the heck happened to them but glad they tasted better than they looked.

 Seriously my boss outdid herself!

These sweet girls stayed up way past their bedtime to deliver goodies to the first of three shifts we will be serving.  They were so excited and it was precious to hear them talk about how hard these officers work and how much time they miss with their families because they are out working to protect us.  If we all saw things through the eyes of 10 year olds!

Holly has a new challenge each week and she will provide you many good, cheap and sometimes even free options for things you can do to serve in your community.

Fun with friends!  We have a restaurant in town, Blue Baker, and if you paint yourself blue you can possibly earn free food!  Katy of The Queen of the Kings and Stephanie over at The Dish B-CS organized a Red, White and Blue night to celebrate this fun week leading up to July 4th!  The kids were all about some body paint and Momma was all about some great food at a reduced price!  

 The whole crew!  I wasn’t able to get off work early enough to paint up but maybe next time!

Seriously can’t believe this blue boy has outgrown me!

Always a fun day when we get to hang with the McB’s!
I really enjoy reading other blogs and the past month and a half I just really haven’t been able to keep up. I finally had a chance to read a few this week and here are some of my favorites!  
Jennifer at Champagne Supernova shared 10 Things I’m Glad Didn’t Exist When I Was in College and I have to agree…totally.  Whew….would I have some explaining to do!  
My poor blogger friend Laura hurt her foot and is having to wear a boot and my goodness her post Coffee With Felicia (written from the boots perspective) had me rolling!  
On a more serious note, both Emily at Ember Grey and Katy at The Queen of the Kings shared some thoughts going through their minds and hearts with all the hate and sadness; finger pointing and name calling going on in our country the past few weeks.  I loved them both for sharing such honest thoughts straight from their hearts.  They both struck me because they had the guts to move forward and share.  I have typed and erased and typed and erased my thoughts and every time I just could not be sure I would not offend someone unintentionally.  Love God, Love Others…it’s simple really.  
Between her youngest son graduating from high school, vacations and my crazy baseball schedule, this girl and I have been missing our gym time.  So happy to have her back and we are ready to suck it up!  I wish I was the kind of person that could workout alone but I will find a million and one other things to do unless I know a friend is there waiting for me!  Kelli & I have known each other for 22 years and she has been my accountability partner in way more areas than just fitness.  Love her to pieces…beautiful inside and out!
When July 4th falls on the weekend we do not receive an official holiday but one of my favorite things this week was finding out we have been authorized a half day off tomorrow!  It’s the little things and I am going to embrace it and enjoy the heck out of it.  Hoping to spend some time with family and friends this weekend celebrating.  
I really, really want to make these but believe it or not I have never been able to make jello.  For real!    
I will probably make this layered red, white and blue drink as I have been able to pull it off for several years in a row and my kids think it’s pretty cool.  Plenty of examples on Pinterest but the trick is to purchase 3 colors of drink with varying amounts of sugar.  The one with the highest sugar content goes on bottom and then work your way up.  The other tip is to be sure to fill the glass full of ice and pour slowly over the ice as pouring too quickly will cause the colors to mix.  Trust me if I can do this anyone can do this!  

And my kids are suckers for some waffles on Saturday morning so we may just have to bring this one back!  I love holidays!

Hope you all have a fabulous 4th and let’s not forget those who so bravely sacrifice so we can enjoy our freedom.  
All the link ups I love here