The Friday Files

Hello, dear friends.  I hope you had a great week.  All is well around here except for the fact that the Mister gave me a cold.  I am chugging buckets of Zicam and Vitamin C which are supposed to lessen the symptoms.  Now instead of my cold running its course for seven days, it will only last a week.  

Does anyone else's appetite increase when they have a cold?  It's not even 9 AM, and I just feasted on my third lunch.  Most of my skinny friends lose their appetite when they're sick.  Not me.

These are a few items that hit my radar this week.   

So sorry that we lost Don Rickles this week.  I came across his house listing, and it's not what I expected.  I love the decor.  Seems like it is a cozy house and a great place to entertain. 

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Do you own horses?  I found the perfect house for you just thirty minutes outside of NYC.

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Here's another gorgeous house for sale in Palm Beach.

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Are you thinking of adding a library to your home?  
Here is some great inspiration.

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Want to know how to skip the long lines at the airport?  

I've got the scoop.


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The bad news is the IRS says that you owe them money.  The good news is that you could win a free one-way ticket on my favorite airline, Jet Blue.  

Added bonus:  you don't have to fly United.

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Planning a wedding and in need of some clever ideas for wedding favors?

They are right here.

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Do you have a daughter getting married?

What type of Mother-of-the-Bride are you?

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Are you looking for some new books to read to the little ones in your life?

Here's a great list of suggestions.

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The Mister sent me this little tidbit because he knows about my newfound addiction to tea.  Every day I heat up the water in my beautiful MC teapot.

Guess what!

According to this article, this is not the healthiest way to brew my tea.

I'm still going to use my teapot.

I don't care what the silly article says.

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Did you just find out that more people are coming for your Easter celebrations than you thought?  Here are some last minute appetizers that just might save your bunny tail.

Added bonus: they're Martha approved.

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Is there a graduate in the house?  

Here is the ultimate guide to planning the party.

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If the graduate is in the job market, here is a list of the Best Places to Work according to employee surveys.

Added Bonus:  The White House is not one of them.

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Have you ever wished you had a magnifying glass handy?
If you have an iPhone, this guy will tell you how to turn your phone into a magnifying glass in 3 easy steps.  

I can even do it!


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Amazon

Kristy Woodson Harvey, who writes the fabulous blog, Design Chic, sent me an early copy of her new book, Slightly South of Simple.

It centers around a mother and her three adult daughters who are visiting her in a small Southern beach town.  I was totally mesmerized by the multi-dimensional characters that made up this heartwarming story about love, loss, and family ties.

Kristy did a stellar job in depicting the tension and frivolity that encompassed the relationships between the sisters.  Each sister was intriguing in her own way. 

But my favorite storyline in Slightly South of Simple is the middle-aged romance that develops between the widowed Mother, Ansley, and her not-so-forgotten love, Jack.  There are very few books that I have read that involve a love story of people of a certain age.  It was believable as well as refreshing.

Another great thing about this book is the fact that it is the first of a trilogy.  I can hardly wait to catch up with Ansley and her daughters in the next chapter of their lives.

I highly recommend Slightly South of Simple to the reader who appreciates the charm of Southern Literature.  It's one of the best.

Enjoy your Easter.


Until next time...