Five Things Friday, Vol. 4
Hi, Friends! It's been a little while, so I thought I'd write a quick post about what I've been into lately. I have to confess I'm getting really excited about my fast from social media coming to an end tomorrow. I hope to write a post about this experiment soon as well. But, in the meantime, here are this Friday's five things:
{1} grocery store flowers
Grocery store flowers are my favorite frugal way to brighten up a space. I knew I wanted fresh flowers by my bedside when I came home after having surgery in early January. (It was nothing huge, thankfully, but I do have an annoyingly long recovery period.) Instead of hoping someone would give me flowers, I decided to pick them up for myself! I purchased a $12-ish bouquet at the grocery store, and the blooms looked fresh and merry for almost three weeks.
For lasting flowers, I've found that daisies in particular hold up really well over time. When you bring your flowers home, trim the stems (on a slant) an inch. Being careful to remove any leaves or foliage that would be submerged in water, put them in two quarts of water with the provided food. (Pro tip: I love using opaque [that is, not transparent] vases. Not only do I like how they look, but you also can't see when the water starts to get murky.) Every three days, prune the ends again and change the water. My flowers probably would have lasted even longer than three weeks, but I got lazy about changing the water toward the end.
Flowers are so cheerful! I've resolved to start including them with the meals I provide to friends in need. I will also continue to treat myself to these from time to time, just for fun.
{2} poirot [the television series]
Agatha Christie shamelessly uses the Sherlock Holmes formula to create mysteries for her own character, Hercule Poirot.
| Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Agatha Christie | |
| Quirky Genius Detective | Sherlock Holmes | Hercule Poirot |
| Bumbling Assistant | Dr. John Watson | Captain Hastings |
| Platonic Female Figure at Detective's Home | Mrs. Hudson | Miss Lemon |
| Scottland Yard Rep. Requiring Detective's Assistance | Inspector Lestrade | Chief Inspector Japp |
| Love Interest (Who happens to be a criminal) | Irene Adler | Countess Vera Rossakoff |
I completely forgive Christie for her lack of originality because her character Hercule Poirot is just so delightful. Whereas Sherlock Holmes is brooding, addicted, and crazed, Hercule Poirot is amiable, possesses impeccable manners, and is laughably vain, particularly about his signature mustache. I also love the humor embedded in each episode; for example, in one episode I recently watched, Captain Hastings has to bow out of an investigation because he can't stop sneezing. It turns out that the sneezing is actually caused by Poirot's expensive new cologne. When confronted with this, he angrily dismisses everyone from his office. Poirot then indulges in another hearty sniff of his new scent and thoroughly enjoys it. If you like mysteries, Poirot is so much fun! I enjoyed watching the series while I was recovering in bed, and I am still slowly making my way through all thirteen seasons.
{3} reminders on my phone
I don't know what I would do without the reminders on my phone. I use them all the time to stay organized and remember to do things. Just a few examples of the reminders on my phone:
* start using new mascara (this is set up to recur every 3 months)
* add a video to 1 Second Everyday app
* take chicken broccoli rice dish out of the freezer
* have Logan pack a stuffed animal for his party on Tuesday
If you've ever wished you had a personal assistant, using the "Reminders" app on your phone just might do the trick.
{4} having a system for changing the bed linens
Ideally, we would wash and change the entire family's bed linens once a week. In reality, we were pretty good about changing our own bedding (adults are sweatier!), but we were not so great about changing the boys' sheets. This is particularly true of our oldest two boys, who sleep in bunk beds. If you do not have experience with bunk beds, they are a nightmare to change and are easily procrastinated.
Intentionality can make all the difference. Recently, I set up a reminder (see #3) on my phone to change Dan's and my bedding every Saturday. I then set up additional reminders, so that, in addition to ours, one of the boys would have his bedding changed each week.
Week 1 - master bedroom sheets + Shane's sheets
Week 2 - master bedroom sheets + Conner's sheets
Week 3 - master bedroom sheets + Logan's sheets
Week 4 - master bedroom sheets + Theo's sheets
{Repeat the cycle.}
I realize this is still less often than ideal, but it's an improvement for us! Of course, we have (and will continue) to wash the bedding more frequently in case of illness, sweating, or potty accidents.
{5} fiction and non-fiction book picks
Fiction - Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy
If you're a fan of Anne Shirley, you'll probably enjoy this novel that explores the question, "What happened between Marilla Cuthbert and John Blythe?" The novel is well-researched and penned by a talented writer who clearly loves the world of Avonlea.
Non-fiction - The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson
One thing I long for is a mentor who's blazed the trail before me... Someone who invested her life pointing her children toward Jesus and filling their hearts with all that is good, true, and beautiful. Someone who has wrestled with the question, "Aren't I more talented than this?" as she empties the dishwasher for the third time in one day. Someone who has found that the Lord used this humble servitude to strengthen her and fill her with wisdom. Until I can find someone in the flesh, Sally Clarkson is my mentor through her lovely books!
The format of this book is divided into twelve months. For each month, Sally or her daughter Sarah reflects on ideas that are unique to that period of the year, and then they discuss what occurred in their own home. I loved reading The Lifegiving Home and was almost content with a borrowed copy from the library, but I decided I needed it on my own shelf when Sally detailed some of the educational trips she and her homeschooled children ventured on. I've been dreaming of similar trips when my children are older, so I will definitely refer to these paragraphs. It's a lovely book that's worth rereading. Going forward, I may just set a reminder on my phone (ha!) to read each month's chapter on the first day of every month.
That concludes my five things for this Friday. Have a wonderful weekend!
