Happy Fri-YAY, Chicas!
Hurrying to share my 5 Fri-YAY Favorites, 06.2019 before Friday has turned into Saturday, and I have turned back into a pumpkin! Had fun writing up my 5 Friday Favorites for May so decided to make it a regular post on the blog. Not sure I’ll share every Fri-YAY but maybe…if a whole lot of favorite things come my way each week.
5 Fri-YAY Favorites, 06.2019
So let’s see what’s up first.
A Children’s Journal
Entered a giveaway hosted by Dee at Grammy’s Grid for this children’s journal and WON! My sweet granddaughter Cady loves to write stories and I am thinking she might also enjoy keeping a journal. My Journal provides a prompt for each day’s entry with lined spaces for writing and an area for drawing. Cadence is very creative so I think she will enjoy doing both. Thank you, Dee.
I keep about a half-dozen journals of one type or another. My gratitude journal, my memoir work and Morning Pages that accompany the book It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again by Julia Cameron, my to-do list which is more like a bullet journal, my journaling Bible, and my life planner. Even with all of that, I seldom know what day it is or what I am supposed to be doing!
Alma and How She Got Her Name
I think my sister Valerie introduced me to this book. She was sharing some recent picture book purchases she had made for her elementary school library. And I believe Alma and How She Got Her Name by author/illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal was one of the books she showed me. Promptly ordered it to read to Lucia on her next visit. It is a 2018 Caldecott Honor Book for its beautiful illustrations.
Growing up, and even now, I never cared for my name. As a little girl, I knew no other Leslies. And hated having such an unusual name. When I asked my father why (on earth) he and my mom named me ‘Leslie’, he responded that I was named after Cinderella (played by Leslie Ann Warren). Which wasn’t true but appeased me for a long time until I learned better. I wanted to be named Laura, and wound up naming my second daughter Lauren, which I think is even prettier.
All of this to say, I didn’t/don’t like my name and the main character in this picture book isn’t too sure about her own. Her father explains the importance of each of her 6 names (Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela), and his daughter decides her name is pretty special after all.
My Stitch Fix Clothes
Boy, my stylist, whose name I loved but can’t remember right now, blew me away with the items she selected for me! Hadn’t done a Stitch Fix in several years. While I liked many of the things in my earlier Fixes, this one was by far the best. The items were more ME. It seems Stitch Fix has created a better way of honing in on a customer’s particular style and preferences. And it works! Even the prices were a little more affordable. So much so, that I bought the whole kit and caboodle. Will be sharing everything next week from my fashion haus. But here’s a sneak peek.
Neroli Woods Cologne
How would you describe the fragrance of summer? Musky, tropical? Sun and salt and sand and surf with a splash of Margarita for good measure? Think of all your favorite things about summer and then imagine them mixed up together in a cologne. That’s “Neroli Woods” cologne by Banana Republic. Last year, I discovered “In the Sun” body mist at Bath and Body Works and thought that was summer captured in a spray bottle. But “Neroli Woods” is even more so. Lauren, Francisco and Cia gave me some for Mother’s Day and I have had so many compliments on it. So, if you have ever wondered what I smell like…have you?…this season it is a mix of “Neroli Woods” and patchouli.
Just noticed how the frame around the mirror looks like some distorted, big ole, plump lips through the cologne bottle. Kinda weird. Kinda creepy.
Etsy Cactus
You know that I use cactus to decorate for summer. And how this year, I am not only decorating the space above the cabinets in the kitchen, but also my Amazon 2 tiered tray? Well, I wanted to carry that cactus theme onto my tray so shopped Etsy to find just the right cutie cactus pieces.
I bought a vintage cactus shaped salt and pepper set, a crocheted cactus and a felt pom-pom cactus. Will be sharing more of my summer decor next week but here’s a glimpse.
Those bright colors and fun shapes make me happy. It’s the little things. Right?
So, if my fingers and toes are accurate, that’s 5 Fri-YAY favorites, 06.2019. But before I bid you farewell and climb the stairs to bed, let’s have a giveaway. Shall we?
Custom Graphic Tee Giveaway
In my first ever Friday favs post last month, I shared a custom sweatshirt and tee with my blog name that I had made by Lindsay at Simply September Shop on Etsy. Have had several compliments on it in real life and in comments here and Instagram. Decided why not share. So today I am sponsoring a giveaway for a custom graphic tee from Simply September.
Enter here and I will announce the winner on 06.30.2019.
Good luck to everyone!
Your Turn
What would your 5 Fri-YAY favorites be? Please share in a comment below. And then be sure to enter the giveaway. If you don’t blog, don’t worry, you can still win a custom tee with the wording of your choice. So be sure to enter. And share!
Off to bed. Photography class tomorrow. What are you up to on your Saturday?
Hugs and kisses,
You’re so welcome and I hope your granddaughter enjoys the journal. I like your name, I think it’s cute but I don’t like mine, that’s why it is shortened to Dee. Ha, the frame does look like lips! Awesome giveaway!
What is your full name, Dee? My daughters’ dad was sooooooo particular about naming our children. We were positive our first baby was a boy and the only name he would approve was Brennan/Brennyn Alexis. This was in the mid-80s and one of his favorite boxers was Alexis (The Gentleman) Arguello. In Panama, where we lived, there were a number of boys named Alexis, although, I don’t think it is used as widely as a male name in the U.S. Anyway, I am glad Brennyn was a girl…I think Brennyn Alexis suits a girl much better!!
I agree, it suits a girl much better than a boy 🙂 As for my name, I’m going to write a blog post about it at some point.
Yay!! Can’t wait to read about your name.
Hi, Leslie! I enjoyed reading about your favorites. I do a monthly favorites post, so that will be coming up closer to the end of this month. I’ve used Stitchfix before, but it’s been several months now since I’ve scheduled a fix. I look forward to when you share about yours. I’ve never been satisfied enough to keep everything from a box, but I do have several Stitchfix pieces in my closet. Thank you for hosting the giveaway. What fun! Today I’ll be biking 40 miles, then picking, freezing, and canning green beans from the garden. Later a little shopping in Ft. Worth and dinner with my better half at Bar Taco. Have a great weekend!
Biking 40 miles. Biking 40 MILES???? Wow. I cannot imagine. For the triathlon, I need to bike 12 miles. I think I can do it but then to run a 5K after (or before) might be tricky. Thank goodness, the swimming leg is on a separate day!!
I was very pleased with my pieces from StitchFix and happy that it seemed the prices were more within my budget this time. Can’t make a habit of getting Fixes but it was fun and I might try it again in the fall.
Glad you entered my tee giveaway. I have so enjoyed wearing my blog graphic tee. Not sure I have gained any new readers but it is a good conversation starter.
I keep seeing blog posts from people who try StitchFix, it’s just started here in the UK, it’s got me thinking …
Had to smile at the title of that book, Alma is my mother in law’s name. I always believed that Alma was the name of a battle in the Crimea war! It certainly isn’t a name you hear very often.
In Spanish, Alma means soul. It is a pretty name.
If you decide to try StitchFix, I would be delighted if you would use my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/leslieclingan?sod=w&som=c. Thank you! I guess it would work on a UK StitichFix. It had been a few years since I had a ‘Fix’ but was very pleased with all of my pieces.
That’s such a sweet story about your dad and your name. Sounds like a wonderful father. I can’t believe you kept your entire Fix! That’s awesome!
My dad was a great guy. We often thought he was grumpy and didn’t really understand why. But he had life-long health issues that required he take so much medicine that he kept it all in a fishing tackle box. And now that he is gone, we kids have seen another side of our mom and realize she wasn’t always the easiest person to live with. He kept some of that from us. Thank you for the kind words.
I loved my Fix. Had to exchange two pieces for smaller sizes – oh yeah, baby!! Will share this week.
Yay, Friday! Did you enjoy the summer solstice, Leslie? Stitch Fix looks interesting, something I may look into trying one of these days. Funny how you feel about your name. I went to school with a couple of Leslie’s, one was a boy, and I always liked it. My daughter’s name is Lauren, too! My grandmother’s middle name was Amanda, which she hated, and I named my oldest daughter Megan Amanda in her memory. My paternal grandmother’s name was Alma 🙂
I did enjoy the summer solstice. Meant to notice what time the sunset and be more aware of the extra sunlight but got busy and forgot!! You are the third gal who has mentioned having a grandmother named Alma. Megan Amanda is a lovely name and of course, I love Lauren. I wanted to name my daughter Lauren after Ralph Lauren perfume “Lauren’. Loved the way the name is written in such a curly, feminine cursive.
I’m really loving these favorites of yours! Looking forward to seeing what you’ll share next time. 🙂 Anne
Thank you, Anne. I really liked everything. Posting my outfits this week. Hope you will stop back by!!
Your Fix is cuuuuute. I keep wanting to try it, but then I get distracted by shiny objects. LOL
I’ve been looking for a new scent — I generally buy from Bath & Body Works, but my scent is gone. I bought it during a sale. I’m gonna have to check your recommendation.
Oh, Daenel, please check out Neroli Woods fragrance at Banana Republic. It is so summery. My daughter also gifted me W or Woman from BR and it is so light and pleasant. I think you would like both.
If you decide to try StitchFix, I would be much obliged if you would use my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/leslieclingan?sod=w&som=c I was so pleased with all of the pieces. Post coming this week!!
My grandmother’s name was Alma. Such a sweet book!
Awww, how sweet. My grandmother’s name was Ada…so almost Alma. Well, I guess, not quite! In Spanish, ‘alma’ means soul. Pretty name.
Ha! Try having a name like mine – no one had it, no one could remember it and everyone thought I was a country bumpkin not a girl from Jersey! All I ever wanted was a license plate for my bike with my name on it! LOL
I can’t wait to see your Stitch Fix box, my former principal used to get those boxes because she never had time or patience to shop, sounds like fun. I am working with a company called Fashom now and they do the same kind of thing – I am so excited!
xo,
Kellyann
Hey doll, I just received a Fashom order yesterday!! I was so pleased with my StitchFix and really couldn’t afford it all but that didn’t keep me from getting it!! Need to open my box from Fashom but now I am scared I will love it all, too!!
Aww, so sad that you couldn’t find a “Kellyann” bike license plate. Not sure there were “Leslie” license plates back when I was little. And my sister’s name is Valerie. She shared our license plate dilemma.
Funny you mentioned being a New Jersey gal. I knew your accent wasn’t a southern one!! I was born in NY then lived in Boston until I was 10 but I don’t think I have an accent at all. I just sound real funky on my videos!
I would like to do better at journaling although I guess my blog is my journal! I look forward to seeing your stitch fix box.
I sort of look at my blog as a journal, too. But I don’t feel completely free to say whatever I am feeling on my blog! Ha! I have been doing something called Morning Pages and that is a form of journaling. Writing them has been very therapeutic.
Glad to hear your Stitch Fix was so successful. After 3 tries with them, I switched to Nordstrom’s Trunk Club and have had a little success. I am awaiting my second trunk before the end of the month. I wasn’t convinced that the Stitch Fix stylists were real people, or maybe they were just much younger and hipper than me. 😉
Hmm, I haven’t heard of Nordstrom’s Trunk Club. Will look into it. Although, we don’t have a Nordstroms. Guess that doesn’t matter, though. My StitchFix stylist had a name so that made me think she was real but ha, maybe not!! She might just be computer generated. Ha!!!
Stitch Fix would definitely be on my list of favorites! It’s so fun to get fashion surprises in the mail. 🙂 And I am having fun with cactus decor as well. I didn’t think about as a summer thing. That’s a great idea! I have a picture in my living room and a new hand towel from my MIL. So I’m on my way to a great stock! Entered the giveaway! 😉
Glad you entered the giveaway. I have enjoyed by blog name graphic tee. Think I will continue to order pieces for each season from Simply September with my blog name on them. We wear the Nike swoosh, and the Under Armour A & U, and the word Tommy, the C for Coach. Why not wear and promote our own logo!! Good luck on the giveaway.
I’m pretty picky about fragrances, but Neroli Woods sounds absolutely lovely! I like floral and citrus scents a lot! I can’t wait to see what you got in your Stitch Fix box! It looks really cute from the photos! I like they lowered their prices. That’s kept me from trying them in the past.
I bet you would like Neroli Woods!! It is perfectly summery. Hope you will give it a sniff next time you are in Banana Republic.
Will be sharing my StitchFix next week. Loved all of my pieces and the prices were very reasonable. They allowed me to select my price range or qualifications…they had categories and I selected their lowest/budget-priced category. So that might be why my Fix was so affordable. But that was the only way I could keep everything!!
I love the story about your name! I never liked my name growing up either. I didn’t know any Jill’s and wanted to go by my middle name, Christy, but it never stuck. It looks like you got a great Stitch Fix box and can’t wait to see how you style everything! Also entered your giveaway!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Yay, glad you entered the tee giveaway. You could have such a cute graphic tee made for your blog…or anything you want. But I think your blog name is so cute and could make a darling tee. I love the name Jill and Gillian. Would have gladly traded Leslie for Jill!!
What a great Friday List of favs! Thanks for linking up at the #GatheringforFriendsLinkParty 1. Pinned
Thank you for pinning!! So glad to be getting to know you.