The Saturday Six

One.

I don't know whether or not I've posted a link like this one before, but even if I have, maybe you need to see it again! Blanket scarves: yes or no? I have one that I think is the size of a blanket scarf, but I've never learned to tie it. I'm also not sure blanket scarves would be flattering on me. Do you have to be tiny to wear one? I don't even know. But if you have them/like them/are intrigued by them, check out this tutorial on how to tie it!

Two.

We have a table almost exactly like this one, and I'm pretty sure the chairs ARE the same. I'm not gonna lie...this freshening up looks pretty tempting! (Ryan, please don't groan.) Have any of you done furniture makeovers like this before?

Three. 

We have a cloche in our bedroom, and I have some shells and driftwood in it, but I feel like it's overall lacking that decorative punch. I found this post that has some great ideas for making beach-inspired cloche décor look complete, not in-progress. If you have one at your house, this might give you some ideas, too!

Four.

Valentine's Day is this coming Thursday, and I found this snack mix idea that I think has even more goodness to it than the post tells. The post shows it as a snack mix for kids, where they count out specific numbers of each ingredient to make their own snack serving. That is, of course, a great idea (and a fun way to work on counting skills if you have a little one) but I think it could be easily modified as a party or break-room snack! Just let people mix and match what they love the most (counting excluded) and have a DIY snack mix bar!

Five.

I totally understand (and respect!) that being single isn't difficult for every unmarried person. I also totally understand (and respect) that for some, it's really hard. I was one of the latter in my single days. I craved marriage so much, and I did my best to live a full and meaningful life, even though I didn't have a husband. I know many of you read Kelly Stamps' blog, and she has a huge heart for single girls, much like I do. She shared a really heartfelt post this week, and if you haven't seen it already, take a look. (Even if you aren't single and longing, it might help you understand your friends who are!)

Six.

I think the Polar Vortex got to me. I just needed a virtual vacation, preferably to somewhere beach-like. So my book last week took me to just such a place. A while ago, my friend Shari gifted me another round of vintage Irene Hannon books she'd found second-hand, and I grabbed one to read! Seaside Blessings, published back in 2013, is apparently the third in a series called Starfish Bay, but I didn't feel behind because I hadn't read the first two in the series. In fact, I was completely done with the book before I realized it didn't stand alone!

The book is set in northern California, so it's not exactly tropical beach life, but beaches are beautiful no matter what, right? Kristen Andrews arrives in the little tourist burg of Starfish Bay to serve as the concierge for the newly constructed Inn at the Point. For the last three years, she's worked for the same management company that crafted the Inn, but in Hawaii instead. She's not sad about leaving tropical life behind, because she's not one to get attached to anyone or anything. Moving along suits her well.

She has every intention of living in a more bustling area, even if it means commuting back and forth to work, but after her first glimpse of thick morning fog, she opts to defer to daily safety and live in the tiny town. Her best housing option ends up being an upstairs apartment owned by the (in her opinion) annoying Clint Nolan. His distaste for her is mutual, but he can't think of a valid reason to deny her the apartment.

Just as she feels she's settling in, Kristen receives a phone call she never dreamed she'd get. The adoptive parents of the little girl she placed for adoption nine years earlier have been killed in a plane crash, leaving her flesh-and-blood child in need of a new home. Though she has lived with guilt over her choice for the past nine years, she really doesn't know anything about children, nor does she feel like she'd be a great mom.

Clint has a way with kids that goes beyond Kristen's talents, and he finds he really enjoys spending time with the two of them...and so the friendship begins.

Of course it's a romance novel, so you already know how the friendship goes, but true to Irene's writing style, the book proves to be a welcome escape from reality into the world of beach towns, pretty resorts, and hiking trails in forests.

Who would like this book? Anyone who needs a quick read, a feel-good story, and a virtual vacation to a northern California beach. The book is small, and it would be a great car/airplane/poolside read if you have a vacation coming up!

Thanks for sharing this with me, Shari! Now I want to read the first two Starfish Bay books! :)